Microstructures based on thermotropic liquid-crystalline polymers in the low molar mass nematogenic 5CB
Résumé
The unique characteristics of two polyacrylates having the same side chain chiral mesogenics groups and different spacer lengths allowed the stabilization of ordered polymer rich-phases in solution with the nematic solvent 5CB. These microstructures are smectic having fibrous-like and rode-like morphologies, in spite of the mesophases of the polymers in bulk. The interactions between the mesogenic groups in the polymer and the solvent 5CB stabilize the microstructures and leads to birefringence at temperatures above the 5CB clearing point. Polarized optical microscopy data are complemented by SAXS to fully describe the mesomorphic behavior of the mixtures.