Thermochimica Acta, Vol.227, 49-57, 1993
Thermal Aad Biphasic Behavior of a Side-Chain Smectic Polyacrylate
The thermal and biphasic behaviour is reported for a side-chain smectic polyacrylate having a number average molecular weight of 59000g mol(-1) and a first polydispersity index of 1.9. Evidence is provided for the existence of smectic Ad and smectic Al mesophases, the former being enantiotropic and the latter monotropic. The biphasic behaviour was studied by DSC by annealing the polymer inside the apparent biphasic gap associated with the smectic Ad-isotropic transition. A biphasic temperature range in which isotropic and smectic Ad phases coexist at equilibrium was revealed, and the thermodynamic width of this biphasic region was estimated to be about 2.0 K.
Keywords:LIQUID-CRYSTAL POLYMERS;NEMATIC-ISOTROPIC BIPHASE;ORIENTATION DYNAMICS;CHEMICAL DISORDER;POLYESTER;HOMOGENEITY;LECTURE;PHASES;MASS