Induced Smectic E Phase in a Binary Blend of Side‐Chain Liquid Crystalline Polymers

Abstract

Two liquid crystalline polymers containing an azobenzene or cyanobiphenyl mesogenic side chain that adopt smectic A phases are mechanically mixed at 1:1 mesogen molar ratio at an isotropic phase temperature and then cooled. The resultant binary polymer mixture behaves like a single component as revealed by polarized microscopy observation and differential scanning calorimetry, indicating that the binary mixture forms a fully compatible polymer blend. Moreover, the simple polymer blend unexpectedly leads to a higher-ordered smectic E phase where a herringbone structure is formed with restricted mesogen axis rotation. These results suggest a specific intermolecular interaction between the two mesogens, thereby inducing unusual compatibilized polymer blends and the most ordered liquid crystal (LC) phase.

Assembly Structure Formation in Bulk and Ultrathin Films of Poly(substituted methylene) Having an Azobenzene Side Chain

“…The Miller indices were obtained from the intersection of the Debye–Scherrer rings superimposed on the reciprocal lattice plane . Considering the wide-angle scattering at q = 15 nm –1 in the SWAXS patterns, the smectic A (SmA)- and smectic B (SmB)-like phases are observed at 120 and 70 °C, respectively (Figure c). − Obviously, C1PAz forms a more ordered self-assembly packing state compared with that of C2PAz. Particularly, when depicting the self-assembling structure by considering the values of lattice constants a and b , the main-chain distance is reduced and the side-chain mesogens further interdigitate in the SmB-like phase.…”

Influence of Crosslink Density on Electrical Performance and Rheological Properties of Crosslinked Polyethylene

“…Polarized light microscopy (PLM) is an effective tool for studying the morphology of polymers, providing visual insights into the characteristic structural elements of polymer units [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. PLM allows for the observation of the shapes of polymer spherulites.…”

Finely tuning the self-assembled architectures of liquid crystal polymers by molecular engineering: phase transitions derived from terminal group variations

“…in the high-angle region assigned as ( 110), ( 111), (200), and (210) diffractions of SmE with a and b values of 0.81 and 0.52 nm, 41,[43][44][45][46] respectively. Furthermore, a simple smectic phase structure of smectic A (SmA) or smectic C (SmC) could be confirmed for P-2 at higher temperatures, as indicated by the diffraction peak at 2.41 nm À1 in the low-angle region and the diffused high-angle amorphous broad halo.…”

“…To sum up, considering the similarity of the diffraction peaks at the high-angle region of sample P-2 to that of polymer P-3 (referenced to as PMMS-X Chol -0.00 in ref. 41), we concluded that the self-assembly structure of P-2 at low temperatures could be smectic E (SmE), evidenced by the five diffraction peaks in the low-angle region assigned as (001), (002), ( 003), (004), and (005), as well as the four diffraction peaks in the high-angle region assigned as ( 110), ( 111), (200), and (210) diffractions of SmE with a and b values of 0.81 and 0.52 nm, 41,[43][44][45][46] respectively. Furthermore, a simple smectic phase structure of smectic A (SmA) or smectic C (SmC) could be confirmed for P-2 at higher temperatures, as indicated by the diffraction peak at 2.41 nm À1 in the low-angle region and the diffused high-angle amorphous broad halo.…”