LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE EPOXY BASED THERMOSETTING POLYMERS

In recent years many examples of liquid crystalline thermosetting poly mers have been reported in the literature. The main reason for the dev elopment of this new class of materials comes from both technological and theoretical implications. Among the different anisotropic thermose ts, epoxy resins represent a family of polymers whose properties make them primary candidates in different fields ranging from high performa nce matrices in advanced composites to polymers for optical applicatio ns. The chemistry of curing process of amine hardened conventional epo xy resins is well known from the literature; however some substancial differences arise during liquid crystalline epoxy monomers crosslinkin g. The level of order of the cured resin can be strongly affected by t he nature of the hardener, as well as the physical properties of the c ured material. This review will present the results of synthesis and p hysico-chemical characterization of liquid crystalline epoxy resins in relation to their applications in some specific fields. (C) 1997 Else vier Science Ltd.