SOLUTION BEHAVIOR OF A LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE SIDE-GROUP POLYMER

Dilute and semidilute solutions of fractions of a liquid-crystalline s ide-group polymer were investigated by means of size-exclusion chromat ography (SEC), static light scattering (LS), density and viscosity mea surements. The mass-average molar mass ranged from M(w)BAR = 1 . 10(5) g . Mol - 1 to 1,5 . 10(6) g - mol - 1. Large discrepancies were foun d between the molar mass determined through SEC and through LS. Strong interactions between the mesogenic groups can be assumed by the resul ts of density and LS measurements. Due to the determined characteristi c ratio of C(infinity) = 19,5 a similar chain stiffness as a poly(alky l methacrylate) of equal length of the side chain is observed. In semi dilute solutions an excess low-angle scattering (ExLAS) occurs which i ncreases at higher concentrations. The dependence of the reduced osmot ic modulus [M(w)BAR/(RT)] (partial-derivative pi/partial-derivative c) T on the parameter x = A2 . M(w)BAR . c was studied.