POLYMERS FOR OPTICAL STORAGE - PHOTORESPONSIVE POLYMERS BY STRUCTURE VARIATION IN SIDE-GROUP POLYMETHACRYLATES

To avoid difficulties linked with the preparation of unique oriented f ilms of liquid-crystalline (LC) polymers, the use of amorphous films o f new photochromic side-group polymers is proposed for optical data st orage. This paper reports on the synthesis and characterization of suc h new polymers. Different possibilities are discussed of decreasing th e LC character by modification of the chemical structure of polymethac rylates with azobenzene side-groups.