New side chain liquid crystalline polymers: synthesis and thermal properties of side chain polyacrylates having segmented spacers

In order to acquire high mobility of a mesogenic group? we propose a new ty pe of side chain liquid crystal polymer having segmented spacers, consistin g of binary moieties of an oligo(ethylene oxide) segment and an alkylene se gment. Six kinds of polyacrylates having segmented spacers consisting of di fferent lengths of an oligo(ethylene oxide) and an alkylene, and having 4'- cyanobiphenyl as a mesogenic group have been synthesized, and their thermal properties investigated. Some of these polyacrylates exhibit a mesophase a nd show an extremely low glass transition temperature compared with LC poly acrylates having ordinary alkylene spacers.