STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF LATERALLY ATTACHED LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS

Structural studies of a series of laterally attached side chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes have been made by X-ray diffraction. All bu t one exhibit a nematic phase with S(C)-like short range ordering. The diffraction has been interpreted in terms of a model in which the mes ogenic units form a 'jacket' around the polymer backbone. The backbone conformation has been studied by small angle X-ray scattering from or iented samples of mesomorphic solutions and by infrared dichroism meas urements on oriented samples of the polymers. In both cases the result s were consistent with the mesogens being oriented parallel to the bac kbone which is consistent with the 'mesogen jacket' model.