Chemical Engineering Communications, Vol.185, 183-200, 2001
Preparation of microspheres with liquid crystal responses
We synthesized a ferroelectric liquid crystal monomer possessing both carboxyl p-benzolxy-benzoate and carboxyl (s)-(-)-2-methylbutyl eater in its side chain. The liquid crystal and styrene monomers were utilized to form matrices of microspheres prepared by the dispersion or suspension polymerization. In this study, we characterized in detail physicochemical properties, thermo-responses, or electro-optical responses in the microspheres. We demonstrated the following results: (1) the volume-averaged diameters of microspheres prepared by the dispersion or suspension polymerization were of 1.5 or 45 mum, respectively, (2) the microspheres prepared showed liquid crystal abilities at the prescribed temperature, (3) the phase transition temperatures toward the liquid crystal phase of the microspheres prepared by copolymerizing the liquid crystal and styrene monomers could be decreased with increasing styrene monomer concentrations, and (4) the microspheres obtained remarkably exhibited electro-optical responses at the appointed voltage.
Keywords:ferroelectric liquid crystal monomer;liquid crystal microsphere;dispersion polymerization;suspension polymerization;electro-optical response;phase-transition behavior