PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF NOVEL SIDE-CHAIN LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYDIENES USING PHOTOINITIATED FREE-RADICAL CYCLOPOLYMERIZATION

This investigation has shown that the technique of photoinitiated free -radical polymerization can be used successfully to produce a variety of side-chain liquid-crystalline (SCLC) polydienes, which contain nove l alicyclic ring structures along the polymer backbone. With the appro priate side chain, ferroelectric SCLC polymers can be prepared exhibit ing wide S-C ranges and low T-g values. By synthesising a polydiene i ncorporating a lactone-ring structure, clear evidence is provided that these types of polymers do contain an alicyclic ring structure along the polymer backbone. The systematic approach adopted for this investi gation has also shown that the low DP values obtained for all the poly dienes were due to degradative chain transfer.