The synthesis and polymerisation of a liquid crystalline crosslinkable thiol-ene molecule

In order to stabilise the alignment of liquid crystalline main chain polyme rs obtained by photopolymerisation of liquid crystalline thiol-ene molecule s, a crosslinkable liquid crystalline thiol-ene molecule was made. Upon pol ymerisation of mixtures of both molecules, polymers were formed which suffe r less from domain formation due to phase separation, crystallisation and s hrinkage compared to polymers made from non-crosslinkable thiol-ene molecul es. Due to this stabilisation, materials with high birefringence could be p repared.