Monolayer behavior and BAM observation of biphenyl liquid crystalline polysiloxane at the A/W interface

Monolayers of a chiral biphenyl liquid crystalline polysiloxane and its mon omer have been studied by TC-A isotherms and hysteresis measurements. Both of them can form monolayers at different temperatures. The molecular packin g in the monolayers are temperature-dependent for the monomer but not for t he polymer. The molecular orderings are dominated by the packing of the bip henyl mesogens. Metastable monolayers with different ordering and thickness of domains have been directly observed by Brewster Angle Microscopy (BAM) in monomer monolayers. Both of them show characteristics of rigid monolayer s. A broken process of the monolayers can be observed during expansion. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.