Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, Vol.33, No.4, 699-705, 1995
An X-Ray-Diffraction Study of the Different Nematic Mesophases of Liquid-Crystalline Poly(Urethane-Ester)S
An x-ray investigation on powder specimens and stretched oriented fibers of poly(urethane-ester)s s TDI-CmCn, derived from various mesogenic alkylene di[4-(omega-hydroxyalkyloxy-4-oxybenzoyl)oxybenzoate]s (CmCn; m = 2, 4, or 6, and n = 4, 6, 8, or 10) and 2,4-toluene-diisocyanate (TDI), is reported. Evidence is provided for the formation of two different nematic mesophases in the polymers, namely a cybotactic nematic and a conventional nematic mesophase. Whereas samples TDI-C2C6, TDI-C6C4, and TDI-C6C10 formed one cybotactic nematic mesophase, samples TDI-C4C6, TDI-C6C6, and TDI-C6C8 exhibited both cybotactic nematic and conventional nematic mesophases in a sequence with increasing temperature, which were connected by a first-order transition. The analysis of the various features of the small-angle x-ray diffraction patterns indicates that two structural arrangements, namely smectic C-like and conventional nematic structures, coexist inside the cybotactic nematic mesophase of these poly(urethane-ester)s.
Keywords:MULTIFUNCTIONAL ISOCYANATES;MESOGENIC UNITS;CARBONIC-ACID;POLYURETHANES;POLYMERS;4;4’-BIPIPERIDINE;POLYESTERS;EXISTENCE;SPACERS;METHYL