Phase Studies of Liquid Crystalline Side Chain Polymers Mixed with Low Molar Mass Liquid Crystals of Similar Structure

Abstract

Abstract Low molar mass liquid crystals exhibiting the same mesomorphic structure are miscible over the whole range of concentration. The applicability of this rule has been examined for mixtures of nematic liquid crystalline side chain polymers with low molar mass nematic liquid crystals. The liquid crystalline side chain polymers are polysiloxanes, characterized by nematogenic units attached as side chains to the polymer backbone, which are miscible with chemically analogous low molar mass liquid crystals. It has to be emphasized, that at high polymer concentrations the mixtures do not crystallize and the nematic region is substantially enlarged towards lower temperatures (plasticizing effect). By further cooling the mixtures freeze yielding anisotropic glasses.