Morphology and Deformation Behaviour of a Liquid Crystalline Polymer Containing Laterally Attached Pentaphenyl Rods

Abstract

Abstract Summary: The morphology and deformation behaviour of a liquid crystalline polymer consisting of both laterally attached transverse rods and terminally attached rods were studied. A plaque specimen of the polymer was prepared using the melt‐compression method, which exhibited highly anisotropic Poisson's ratio behaviour. In its through‐thickness direction, its Poisson's ratio was approximately 0.54, and in the in‐plane it was approximately 0.43. This anisotropic behaviour is explained by the anisotropic morphology of the polymer plaque resulting from its compression preparation. The high Poisson's ratio in the through‐thickness direction is due to the unusual chain structure of the polymer. A simple analytical model is presented to describe the non‐linear strain dependent Poisson's ratio behaviour of the material. Representation of the arrangement of the main chain and transverse rod molecules, prior to, during, and at complete extension. magnified image Representation of the arrangement of the main chain and transverse rod molecules, prior to, during, and at complete extension.