Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Vol.546, 134-142, 2011
Mechanical Properties of Polymer/Liquid Crystal Films Elaborated by Electron Beam and UV Radiation
The thermomechanical properties of electron beam (EB) and ultraviolet (UV) cured TPGDA (tripropyleneglycol diacrylate)/liquid crystal (LC) blends were the subject of static and dynamic analysis. In the glassy region of the LC, a very strong temperature dependence on the polymer storage modulus was found for EB-cured networks in the range of compositions 40-60 weight.-% of LC. Above the LC glass transition temperature (Tg), the LC behaves like a plasticizing agent. Below Tg of the LC, the LC reinforces the polymer. In the case of the UV-cured system, the effect of plasticizing of the LC remains dominant from -100 to +100 degrees C.
Keywords:Electron beam;glass transition temperature;liquid crystal;mechanical properties;polymer;ultraviolet