INFLUENCE OF CHIRALITY ON PHASE-BEHAVIOR OF SIDE-CHAIN LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS

Two kinds of chiral side chain liquid crystalline polyacrylates were s ynthesized and characterized by DSC, POM and x-ray diffraction. The re sults indicated that chirality of side chain end group and spacer leng th strongly influence the phase behaviour of the polymers. The polymer P-I with one asymmetric carbon atom of end group exhibits enantitropi c Smectic S-A and S-C phases. The polymer P-III having two asymmetric carbon atoms displays enantitropic Smectic S-A and S-B phases. Format ion of liquid crystalline polymorphism of polymers depends on spacer l ength of side chains.