Liquid crystalline polymers LCPs smectic crystals

Collings PJ (1990) Nature s delicate phase of matter. Adam Hilger lOP, Bristol, p 196 Datta A, Chen HH, Baird DG (1993) The effect of compatibilization on blends of polypropylene with a liquid-crystalline polymer. Polymer 34(4) 759-766 Davidson P (1999) Selected topics in X-ray scattering by liquid-crystalline polymers. In Mingos DMP (ed) Liquid crystals II. Springer, Berlin, pp 1-39 Dowell F (1988) New theories for smectic and nematic liquid-crystal polymers backbone LCPs and their mixtures and side-chain LCPs. Mol Cryst Liq Cryst Inc Nonlinear Opt 157 (l) 203-227... 

The presence of a mesomorphic component dispersed in a crystallizable polymer matrix, can induce noteable changes of the crystallization behavior, crystallinity degree, and crystal morphology of the matrix. For blends of PET with liquid-crystalline copolyesters the crystallization rate of PET matrix was found to increase with increasing the LCP content, indicating a nucleating effect of the LCP component [139]. Similar effects have been reported for blends with polyolefin matrix for blends of iPP with a smectic polyester (PTEB) compati-... 

The first liquid crystal polymers (LCPs), in which structural moieties known to lead to mesomorphic behavior in small-molecule liquid crystals have been incorporated into the main chain, were reported in early 1980s. The presence of the mesogenic units in the polymer chain enhances the tendency for the material to form the liquid crystalline state, and these polymers also show better thermal stability. Both the nematic and smectic phases can be observed in these materials, (see Fig. 4.12). 

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