LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE EPOXY-RESIN CURED BY MESOGENIC HARDENING COMPOUNDS

A new type of liquid crystalline epoxy resin functionalized with mesog enic hardening agent was obtained by reacting stoichiometrically 4,4'- bis (2,3-epoxypropoxy) -3,3'5,5'-tetramethyl biphenyl (EPTB) (diepoxid e monomer) with 4,4'-bis (omega-carboxy decanoxy) azoxybenzene (CDA10) (mesogenic hardening monomer) at 145 degrees C for 10 min, using tri- n-butylamine as a catalyst, Mesomorphic phase transition behavior for EPTB-CDA10 prepolymer obtained was studied as function of curing time at 140 degrees C by use of DSC and polarized microscopy, When the curi ng time is shorter than a gelling time (60 min), EPTB-CDA10 showed a l iquid crystalline state reminiscent of smectic phase, while that remin iscent of nematic phase, when the curing time is longer than the gelli ng time, This work indicates that the new type of epoxy resin cured by mesogenic hardening compound can have a liquid crystal state.