LC BLOCK-COPOLYMERS CONTAINING SIDE-CHAIN AND MAIN-CHAIN BLOCKS

The synthesis and some thermal properties of a new type of block copol ymers comprising both main-chain and side-chain liquid-crystalline (LC ) blocks in the same macromolecular structure are described. The forme r block is a semiflexible LC polyester (block A), and the latter is a LC polymethacrylate (block B). The two structurally different blocks w ere at least partly phase-separated within the glassy and LC states an d underwent distinct phase transitions. Significant deviations of the thermodynamic parameters observed relative to those of the correspondi ng homopolymers suggest the occurrence of a more or less diffuse inter phase.