DIPOLAR RELAXATIONS IN A SIDE-CHAIN POLYACRYLATE LIQUID-CRYSTAL - A STUDY BY THERMALLY STIMULATED CURRENTS

The dipolar relaxation mechanisms present in a side-chain liquid cryst alline polyacrylate were studied in a wide temperature range covering the glassy state, the glass transition region and the liquid crystalli ne phase. The complex relaxation processes observed in these different temperature regions were analysed in detail using the technique of th ermal cleaning. The significance of the so-called compensation behavio ur, which is frequently considered as a feature of the glass transitio n relaxation in polymeric materials, is discussed.