LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYSURFACTANT

A new kind of amphiphilic polymer(PAMC(16)B) has been synthesized wher e the amphiphilic moiety is attached as a side chain via the hydrophil ic end to the polymer backbone. DSC, POM, and WAXD study revealed that the polysurfactant formed thermotropic liquid crystalline phase. The liquid crystalline domains appeared after annealed at the melt for a p eriod of time, and evolved with annealing. It was indicated that the t hermodynamic effect played a significant role on the self-aggregation of hydrophobic ends, so as to form liquid crystalline structure. X-ray investigation suggested that the mesophase structure could be describ ed as smectic with lamellar type of packing, in which alkyl tails aggr egated to form layer, A model of supermolecular structure was given.