The influence of external mechanical stress on the nematic-isotropic phase transformation of nematic elastomers was investigated. The experimental results of IR-dichroism measurements in the nematic phase and stress-optical measurements in the isotropic phase are in good agreement with the theoretical predicitions of the phenomenological Landau-de Gennes theory. This is for the first time that a significant influence of an external field on the nematic-isotropic phase transformation temperature and on the nematic order parameter S has been proved.

Novel families of thermoplastic polysaccharides such as cellulose-2,5-acetate were produced by means of reactive processing technology that grafted cyclic lactones simultaneously onto polysaccharide, hydroxyfunctional plasticizer, and optionally also onto hydroxyfunctional fillers. Organosolv lignin, cellulose, starch, and chitin were added to effect reinforcement of the polymer matrix. Mechanical and thermal properties depended upon molecular architecture of the components and process parameters such as temperature, feed ratios, and screw speed. Such blends and composites utilize renewable resources and are of interest in waste disposal via biodegradation.

Solutions of two different liquid crystalline polymers of high molecular weight are investigated by static and dynamic light scattering (LS), membrane osmometry and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). Measurements in dilute solution in different solvents showed no specific behavior as formation of aggregates or chain stiffening. Large discrepancies between the LS results and the results from osmometry and SEC show that the latter methods are in the present cases not suitable for molecular weight determination. In semi-dilute solution the osmotic modulus and the time correlation function were studied. Behavior of flexible chains was observed. In one system a slight aggregation of small molecules onto longer chains was found causing less interpenetration of the chains in that solvent. At moderately high concentrations cluster formation was observed from i) a small angle excess scattering, ii) a downturn of the osmotic modulus, and iii) the appearance of a slow motion in the time-correlation function.

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