Elastomers SCLCP

The techniques used to obtain the untwisted SmC phase structure in low molar mass LCs and SCLCPs are limited to thin layers. In contrast to this, LC elastomers can be macroscopically uniformly oriented by mechanical deformations [230], and this orientation process is not limited to thin samples or suitable dielectric anisotropy of the material. Furthermore, for LC elastomers the oriented structure can be chemically locked in by crosslinking, resulting in the so-called liquid single crystal elastomers [231],... 

A controlled free radical polymerization technique was also used, namely, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), to synthesize ATE on the basis of ABA triblock copolymers (Fig. 11.3b) (Cui et al., 2004). The triblock copolymer was designed to have a rubbery midblock of poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PnBA) and two end blocks of poly 6-[4-(4-methoxyphenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate) (PAzoMA) that is azo-SCLCP. For synthesis, a dibromo initiator, namely, l,l -biphenyl-4,4 -bis(2-bromoisobutyrate), can first be used to prepare the dibromo PnBA macroinitiator, which is then used to polymerize the azobenzene methacrylate monomer to yield the two end blocks of PAzoMA. This ATE is different from azo-SCLCP-grafted SBS. It is a thermoplastic elastomer, in which... 

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