Solvent-induced ordering phenomena in a segmented-chain mesogenic polymer with a flexible substituent at the rigid moiety

Solvent-induced ordering phenomena of a liquid-crystalline polymer, charact erized by having moderate flexibility in the main chain and a highly flexib le lateral substituent, was investigated in different liquids. Diffusion an d sorption were measured at room temperature. The solvent-uptake kinetics w ere found either Fickian or anomalous, depending on the solubility paramete r of the liquids. The curve of weight uptake of the different solvents, rep orted as a function of the solubility parameters, shows a maximum correspon dent to chloroform. Liquids with low solubility parameter, as pentane and n -hexane, do not induce any change in the structural organization of the sta rting sample, whereas ordering phenomena are evident for all the solvents t hat strongly interact with the liquid crystalline sample.