SYNTHESIS OF NEW STILBENE-BASED POLYCARBONATES

A series of polycarbonates with stilbene mesogens has been prepared an d characterized, expanding upon past work with stilbene-based polyeste rs and polyethers. It has been found that the stilbene mesogen, mono- or di-substituted with methyl or ethyl groups, significantly affects p olymer morphology. Polycarbonates containing stilbene mesogens have be en studied by differential calorimetry, polarized microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Methyl substituted stilbenes are semicrystalline and app ear to be liquid crystalline, whereas ethyl substituted stilbenes are amorphous. Disubstitution lowers the transition temperatures from thos e values observed for monosubstituted stilbenes.