Structures of Liquid Crystalline Side Group Polymers Oriented by Drawing

Abstract

The fiber patterns of a series of liquid crystalline polymers were analysed. For polymers with smectic phases and for polymers with long spacers and nematic phases, the mesogenic groups orient perpendicularly to the polymer main chains which are parallel to the fiber axis. The fiber pattern indicate a short range order of the mesogenic groups analogous to that in low-molecular weight liquid crystals. For polymers with short spacer groups and nematic phases qualitatively different fiber patterns are found. These fiber patterns are indicative for a special nematic phase formed by ribbon-like molecules.