Liquid-crystalline additives

The dependence of Tg on the concentration of EBBA shows the expected decrease of Tg values at lower EBBA concentrations where the liquid crystalline additive exists as a homogeneous solution in PC. EBBA shows a plasticizing effect which is less pronounced than that observed for typical plasticizers like dibutyl phthalate and chlorinated phenyls. The blends of these compounds were prepared... 

Otlier possibilities for observing phase transitions are offered by suspensions of non-spherical particles. Such systems can display liquid crystalline phases, in addition to tire isotropic liquid and crystalline phases (see also section C2.2). First, we consider rod-like particles (see [114, 115], and references tlierein). As shown by Onsager [116, 117], sufficiently elongated particles will display a nematic phase, in which tire particles have a tendency to align parallel to... 

More recently, Raman spectroscopy has been used to investigate the vibrational spectroscopy of polymer Hquid crystals (46) (see Liquid crystalline materials), the kinetics of polymerization (47) (see Kinetic measurements), synthetic polymers and mbbers (48), and stress and strain in fibers and composites (49) (see Composite materials). The relationship between Raman spectra and the stmcture of conjugated and conducting polymers has been reviewed (50,51). In addition, a general review of ft-Raman studies of polymers has been pubUshed (52). 

As Carfagna et al. [61] suggested, the addition of a mesophasic polymer to an amorphous matrix can lead to different results depending on the properties of the liquid crystalline polymer and its amount. If a small amount of the filler compatible with the matrix is added, only plasticization effect can be expected and the dimensional stability of the blend would be reduced. Addition of PET-PHB60 to polycarbonate reduced the dimensionality of the composite, i.e., it increased the shrinkage [42]. This behavior was ascribed to the very low... 

In addition to the broad categories of TPs and TSs, TPs can be further classified in terms of their structure, as either crystalline, amorphous, or liquid crystalline. Other classes (terms) include elastomers, copolymers, compounds, commodity resins, engineering plastics, or neat plastics. Additives, fillers, and reinforcements are other classifications that relate directly to plastics properties and performance. 

The cost/performance factor of individual surfactants will always be considered in determining which surfactants are blended in a mixed active formulation. However, with the recent advent of compact powders and concentrated liquids, other factors, such as processing, density, powder flowability, water content, stabilization of additives, dispersibility in nonaqueous solvents, dispersion of builders, and liquid crystalline phase behavior, have become important in determining the selection of individual surfactants. 

Incorporation of flexible siloxane spacers into side chain or main chain liquid crystalline polymers have been shown to drastically reduce the transition temperatures 255,267,271,272,277) anc[ aiso increase the response time of the resultant systems to the applied thermal, optical or electrical fields 350-353>. In addition, siloxanes also provided elastomeric properties and improved the processibility (solution or melt) of the resulting liquid crystalline copolymers. 

The development of high-magnification microscopy made it possible to create images of biological materials at the molecular level. Many of these images show structures that have liquid crystalline aspects. Shown here are aligned mosaic virus molecules and protein molecules in voluntary muscles. In addition, all cell walls are picket fences of rod-shaped molecules in regular yet fluid arra. ... 

This has been verified for polydimethylsiloxanes added to crude oils. The effect of the dilatational elasticities and viscosities on crude oil by the addition of polydimethylsiloxanes is shown in Table 21-1. Under nonequilibrium conditions, both a high bulk viscosity and a surface viscosity can delay the film thinning and the stretching deformation, which precedes the destruction of a foam. There is another issue that concerns the formation of ordered structures. The development of ordered structures in the surface film may also stabilize the foams. Liquid crystalline phases in surfaces enhance the stability of the foam. 

Major determinants of membrane fluidity may be grouped within two categories [53] (1) intrinsic determinants, i.e., those quantifying the membrane composition and phase behavior, and (2) extrinsic determinants, i.e., environmental factors (Table 1). In general, any manipulation that induces an increase in the molal volume of the lipids, e.g., increase in temperature or increase in the fraction of unsaturated acyl chains, will lead to an increase in membrane fluidity. In addition, several intrinsic and extrinsic factors presented in Table 1 determine the temperature at which the lipid molecules undergo a transition from the gel state to liquid crystalline state, a transition associated with a large increase in bilayer fluidity. 

Table I demonstrates that most liquid crystalline polymers lacking a spacer are formed from a flexible polyacrylate backbone. In contrast, the methyl substituent in polymethacrylate backbones both reduce main chain mobility and imposes additional steric barriers to mesophase formation. Therefore, successful liquid crystalline formation of polymethacrylates has been achieved only...

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