Effect of the structure of a polymer matrix on the phase behavior of comb-shaped liquid-crystalline ionomers

LC ionomers containing 2-15 mol % of metal ions were synthesized by the exc hange reaction between nematic functionalized LC copolymers bearing oxycyan obiphenyl (or phenyl benzoate) mesogenic groups and carboxyl groups (acryli c acid, 3-acryloyloxypropionic acid, or 1,4-(4-carboxy-4-phenyloxy)propylox ycarbonylethylene) with sodium acetate. For LC ionomers prepared on the bas is of acrylic acid copolymers, an SA-phase is formed at a low concentration of metal ions (similar to2 mol %); an increase in the concentration of met al ions is accompanied by a rise in the clearing point and glass transition temperature. The removal of charged ionogenic groups from the polymer back bone significantly reduces their effect on the phase behavior of LC ionomer s, as manifested by the inability of macromolecules to form a smectic phase . For comb-shaped LC ionomers, a structural model was advanced that allows for the formation of ionic multiplets between charged groups and takes into account the concentration, nature, and charges of metal ions, as well as t he distance between the charged groups and the main chains of macromolecule s.