EFFICIENT POLYMERIZATION OF A SEMI-FLUORINATED LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE METHACRYLATE

Polymerization of a liquid crystalline semi-fluorinated methacrylate m onomer at a temperature which maintains a highly ordered smectic textu re is extremely efficient. The efficiency in the isotropic phase is mu ch lower. When polymerization is conducted in the isotropic phase at o nly a few degrees above its clearing temperature, a change to a low-or der liquid crystal with smectic texture occurs during polymerization: the change is accompanied by an abrupt increase in the polymerization rate. At higher temperatures in the isotropic phase no change in textu re occurs during polymerization, and the quantum efficiency of polymer ization is two orders of magnitude lower than in the liquid crystallin e medium. The polymerization efficiency for the semi-fluorinated metha crylate in the highly ordered smectic is greater than for the lower or der of a cholesterol-bearing liquid crystalline methacrylate, or an is otropic trifunctional acrylate.