ANISOTROPIC LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE EPOXY THERMOSET

The processing of an anisotropic liquid crystalline thermoset formed b y p-bis(2,3-epoxypropoxy)-alpha-methylstilbene (DOMS) and 1-methyl-2,4 -diaminobenzene (DAT) with uniformly oriented mesomorphic molecules, a nd consequently strongly birefringent, is described. The unidirectiona l alignment of the molecules was achieved during the curing process by external factors such as surface-liquid crystal interactions and/or a n applied electric field. The control over the molecular orientation e nabled us to produce well oriented highly anisotropic and birefringent epoxy thin films. In this paper, are discuss the formation process an d the properties of the anisotropic epoxy network.