Miscibility phase diagrams and phase separation dynamics in mixtures of side-chain liquid crystalline polymers (SCLCP) and monomeric liquid crystals have been investigated experimentally in order to test with theoretical predictions. The theoretical calculation on equilibrium phase diagrams of binary nematic mixtures involves a combination of the Flory-Huggins (FH) free energy for isotropic mixing in conjunction with the Maier-Saupe (MS) free energy for nematic ordering of the mesogenic units. Two orientational order parameters and two nematic-isotropic (NI) transitions of the constituent mesogens are taken into consideration in the calculation. This combined FH-MS theory predicts a variety of phase diagrams depending on the relative strength of the cross-interaction between two dissimilar mesogens as compared to that in the same species. A series of epoxy resins [ethylene glycol glycidyl ether (EGDE)] grafted with mesogenic amines 4-(ω-aminoalkoxy)-4′-cyanobiphenyl were synthesized. The temperature-composition phase diagrams of these SCLCP mixtures and the eutectic low molar mass liquid crystal (E7) have been established by a cloud point method. The calculated phase diagrams are found to accord well with the experimental phase diagrams. The dynamics of phase separation has been investigated by means of time-resolved light scattering and optical microscopy. The time evolution of the structure factor following various temperature quenches into the nematic-liquid and/or nematicnematic coexistence regions has been analyzed in terms of a power law scheme.

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A liquid-crystal (LC) photoalignment method, based on the use of low-molecular-weight photo-cross-linkable (LMWPC) composites is proposed. The basic idea of this method is that cross linking or both cross linking and polymerization of LMWPC composites are realized immediately on the substrate simultaneously with the photoalignment or as a stage of the backing process. Providing the advantages of a conventional photoalignment method, the use of LMWPC composites simplifies the synthesis and alignment procedure, makes possible wide range control of pretilt angles, and enhances the thermal stability of the LC alignment. The abilities of this method are demonstrated using a series of cinnamate-containing monomers.

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