Physical Properties of Liquid Crystalline Elastomers

In the preceding chapters the synthesis properties of linear liquid crystalline polymers are described, where different approaches exist to obtain the liquid crystalline state rod-like or disc-like mesogenic units are either incorporated in the polymer backbone or are attached as side groups to the monomer units of the main chain. Following conventional synthetic techniques these linear polymers can be converted to polymer networks. Compared to low molar mass liquid crystals and linear liquid crystalline polymers, these liquid crystalline elastomers exhibit exceptional new physical and material properties due to the combination and interaction of polymer network elasticity with the anisotropic liquid crystalline state. [Pg.277]

In this chapter we review the physical properties of liquid crystalline elastomers using publications until 1996. For a review of the physical properties of strongly cross-linked liquid crystalline polymers, which give rise to anisotropic nonliquid crystal line materials (duromers or anisotropic solids) we refer to the recent review by Hikmet and Lub [1]. [Pg.277]

To organize this chapter efficiently we have split it into two sections the behavior near phase transitions and the physical properties of the bulk phases. Accordingly, subsections contain material on one type of phase transition or on the bulk behavior of (typically) one specific liquid crystalline phase. [Pg.277]