Cores SCLCP

A great maity SCLCPs have been synthesised because of the combination of the vast number of mesogenic core nnits available from stmctuie-property relationship evaluation of low molar mass liquid crystals and the maity different backbone (BB) types possible e.g., siloxanes, acrylates, methacrylates, ethylenes, epoxides). Additionally, as shown in Figure 5.4, homopolymers (5.4a), SC copolymers (5.4b), BB copolymers (5.4c), and SC/BB copolymers (5.4d) considerably extend the scope of known and potential liquid crystal polymers. 

Ringsdorf, Shibaev and Plate is practiced in contemporary literature for realizing the SCLCPs with different pendant mesogenic core units (Ganicz and Stanczyk 2009). 

LCPs combine the mechanical properties of polymers with the order of LCs. The low molar mass mesogenic units, which form a LC phase, consist of a rigid core. If this core is extended, so-called main chain liquid crystalline polymers (MCLCPs) are obtained. A second method to obtain LCPs is to connect low molecular weight LC (LMWLC) units via flexible spacers. This approach allows the preparation of side chain liquid crystalline polymers (SCLCPs) (Box 1). 

There are different polymer structures that exhibit LC phases. The extension of the mesogen s rigid aromatic core leads to main chain polper systems. Other approaches are based on the spacer concept. Here rigid cores that are common in LMWLCs are decoupled by flexible alkyl chains. The mesogenic units can be placed either in the main or in the side chain. Also combined MCLCP/SCLCPs have been prepared (figure 3). 

Similar, if less pronounced, effects are also found in other non-polar SCLCPs. A simple estimate of dipolar-induced dipolar forces in these systems suggests that the core overlap is due to the action of these forces between the mesogenic side groups. SCLCPs may exhibit A and C phases which have a monolayer, a perfect bilayer or an interdigitated structure, depending on the nature of the polymer backbone, the number of atoms in the flexible spacer and the length of the terminal... 

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