Side-chain functionalized liquid crystalline polymers and blends, 4 - Phase behavior of functionalized liquid crystalline copolymers containing maleic acid fragments

A number of new functionalized LC copolymers containing mesogenic oxycyanob iphenyl groups and 3-41 mol-% of maleic acid has been obtained by free radi cal copolymerization in solution. A significant effect of intramolecular hy drogen bonds on the phase behavior of these copolymers is observed: for a m aleic acid content of up to 8 mol-% LC copolymers form only the nematic and between 10-41 mol-% the SmA phase is formed. The process of formation of a nhydrides in functionalized LC polymers at 130 degreesC is investigated. It is shown that the formation of five-membered intramolecular anhydride ring s does not influence the phase behavior of the LC polymers.