STUDY OF IN-SITU PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION OF CHIRAL LIQUID-CRYSTAL ACRYLATE

The effect of the smectic and isotropic phase on the photopolymerizati on of the chiral liquid crystalline xy-undecanyloxy-4'-[S(-)2-methylbu tyloxy]-biphenyl (monomer (I)) was studied using FTIR. The effect of t emperature on the birefringence of surface-oriented monomer (I) and it s polymer obtained by in-situ photopolymerization was also investigate d. The results show that photopolymerization in the isotropic phase pr oceeds at a higher rate than in the smectic phase, when monomer conver sion is less than 60%; however, when monomer conversion is above 60%, the photopolymerization rate is independent of the initial phase state of monomer (I), and a highly oriented liquid crystalline polyacrylate him can be prepared by in-situ photopolymerization of the surface-ori ented chiral acrylate