Thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior of cholesterol-linked hydroxyethyl cellulose

Abstract

A series of monocholesterylsuccinate (ChMS) derivatives of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) were prepared with degree of substitution ranging from 0.6 to 2.0. They were characterized by ChMS content, infrared spectroscopy, polarizing microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. All these polymers displayed thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior on heating as well as on cooling. The transformation temperature was found to be influenced by the degree of substitution. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 72: 763–770, 1999