Main chain liquid crystal polymers MCLCP

In general terms, high molar mass liquid crystals are classified according to the location of the mesogenic unit in the polymer. Thus, they are either incorporated into the main chain (main-chain liquid crystal polymers - MCLCP Fig. 5A) or they are pendant from the main chain (side-chain liquid crystal polymers - SCLCP Fig. 5B). 

MAIN CHAIN LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMERS (MCLCPs)... 

Because of the structural similarity between semi-rigid thermotropic polymers and LCPs, i.e. the presence of rigid moieties separated by flexible spacers, all polymers of this kind are commonly referred to as the main chain liquid crystal polymers (mcLCP). 

Low-molecular-weight liquid-crystalline compounds have been known for about 100 years. However, main chain liquid crystal polymers (MCLCPs) have attained prominence only in the last 15 years. In 1956 Flory predicted lyotropic behaviour and this theoretical prediction was well demonstrated in the synthetic polymer area with the discovery by Kwolek of the aramids, e.g. poly(/ -phenyleneterephthamide). This led to interest in thermotropic main chain LCPs and, although aromatic polyesters which are thermotropic were described during this period in patents issued to and Carborundum Co., their liquid-crystalline... 

MCLCP Main-chain liquid crystal polymer ... 

Fliissigkristallanzeige liquid crystal display fliissigkristalline Hauptketten-Polymer main-chain liquid crystalline polymer (MCLCP)... 

All Liquid Crystal Polymers are characterised by the fact that they contain stiff meso-genic groups, often inserted in flexible chain systems (so called "spacers") and connected to them by linking functional groups the mesogenic unit is inserted either in the main chain or in the side chains or (in exceptional cases) in both. We shall discuss MCLCPs and SCLCPs. A schematic representation of common structures of LCPs is displayed in Fig. 6.14 (Jansen, 1996). An example of a SCLCP with disc-like mesogens is displayed in Fig. 6.15 (Franse et al., 2002, 2004). 

Polymeric liquid crystals can be classified into either of two types, thermotropic and lyotropic, according to their formation conditions, or three types, main-chain, side-chain and complex liquid crystalline polymer (MCLCP, SCLCP and CLCP,... 

---