Phase behavior of electron beam cured and uncured propoxylated glyceroltriacrylate/E7 mixtures

The phase properties of uncured and electron beam cured propoxylated Glycer oltriacrylate (GPTA)/E7 mixtures are investigated using polarized optical m icroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The cured samples were pre pared by polymerization/crosslinking reactions with controlled dose and dos e rate by means of electron beam irradiation. The experimental phase diagra m of cured GPTA/E7 mixtures was successfully analyzed using a model based o n the Flory-Rehner elastic free energy supplemented with the Maier-Saupe fr ee energy of nematic order. The data corresponding to the uncured samples w ere successfully interpreted combining the Flory-Huggins theory of isotropi c mixing and the Maier-Saupe theory of nematic order.