EFFECT OF THE ORIENTATION OF THE ESTER BONDS ON THE PROPERTIES OF 3 ISOMERIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL DIACRYLATES BEFORE AND AFTER POLYMERIZATION

Three is isomeric liquid crystal (LC) acrylates 4-((6-(acryloyloxy)hex yl)oxy)benzoyl)-oxy)benzene, oyloxy)hexyl)oxy)benzoyl)oxy)benzoyl)oxy) -benzene, and bis(4-((6-(acryloyloxy)hexyl)oxy)phenyl) terephthalate w ere synthesized. The orientation of the ester links with respect to th e central phenyl ring has a strong influence on the phase, optical, an d dielectric behavior of the monomers. The polymerization behavior of the isomers was found to differ. Changes occurring in the microstructu re during polymerization were studied using X-ray diffraction. In orde r to obtain an understanding of the observed differences, the phase be havior and polymerization behavior of various mixtures were studied. T he results of the experiments and the molecular modeling suggested tha t the associations between the molecules is the origin of the formatio n of observed LC phases and the strength of the interactions determine whether the microstructure is preserved during polymerization.