LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS - IV - SYNTHESIS OF SOME THERMOTROPIC POLYETHERS WITH SEMIRIGID CHAIN

The synthesis and characterization of some ternary copolyethers of 3,3 -bis(chloromethyl) oxetane with two different bisphenols are presented . The polymers were obtained by polycondensation using a phase transfe r catalysis technique. Their liquid crystalline behaviour was analysed in correlation with the geometry and flexibility of the macromolecula r chain that are determined by the chemical structure and content of 4 ,4'-dihydroxybisphenol comonomers. The copolyethers polymers containin g 4,4'-dihydroxyazo-benzene show liquid crystalline behaviour if the c ontent of this bisphenol is higher than that of the second bisphenol. No liquid crystalline properties were observed for polymers containing 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl.