KAGAKU KOGAKU RONBUNSHU, Vol.26, No.3, 450-456, 2000
Preparation of side-chain liquid crystalline polymer microspheres
We synthesized a ferroelectric liquid crystal monomer possessing both carboxyl p-benzolxybenzoate and carboxyl (S)-(-) -2-methylbutyl ester in its side chain. The liquid crystal monomer and styrene monomer were utilized to form matrices of microspheres, which were prepared by suspension, dispersion, or emulsion polymerization. In this study, we characterize in detail physicochemical properties, thermo-response, and electro-optical response in the microspheres. We demonstrate the following results: (1) The volume-averaged diameters of microspheres prepared by the suspension, dispersion, and emulsion polymerization are of 45 mu m, 1.5 mu m, and 85 nm, respectively; (2) the microspheres prepared showed a liquid crystalline behavior at the prescribed temperature; (3) the phase transition temperature toward the liquid crystal phase of microspheres prepared by co-polymerizing the liquid crystal monomer and styrene monomer decrease with increasing styrene monomer concentrations; and (4) the microspheres obtained remarkably exhibite electro-optical responses at the appointed voltage.
Keywords:LIGHT