Liquid-crystalline behaviour of 4-(ω-aminoalkyloxy)-4′-cyanobiphenyls and their side chain epoxy polymers

Abstract

Abstract Liquid-crystalline side chain polymers were obtained from the ring-opening reaction of epoxy resin with mesogenic amines, 4-(ω-aminoalkyloxy)-4′-cyanobiphenyl. The amines with the alkyl group ranging from five to nine methylene units were synthesized, and were found to exhibit an enantiotropic nematic phase. Polymerization of these amines with ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether at 100°C yielded the polymers of low glass transition and melting temperatures. The mesomorphic properties of the amines and the resulting epoxy polymers are reported.