Bücher der Reihe Polymer Liquid Crystals Series

As compared to engineering polymers (EPs) and polymer composites, polymer liquid crystals (PLCs) have various attractive properties. This book covers inorganic, organic as well as non-covalently bonded PLCs. It describes their mechanical properties and performance, thermophysical characteristics, which is the basis for intelligent processing.

Liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) have many strange properties that may be utilized to advantage in the processing of products made from them and their blends with isotropic polymers. This volume (volume 2 in the series Polymer Liquid Crystals) deals with their strange flow behaviour and the models put forward to explain the phenomena that occur in such polymers and their blends. It has been known for some time that small ad- ditions of a thermotropic LCP to isotropic polymers not only gives an improvement in the strength and stiffness of the blend but improves the processability of the blend over that of the isotropic polymer. In the case of lyotropic LCPs, it is possible to create a molecular composite in which the reinforcement of an isotropic polymer is achieved at a molecular level by the addition of the LCP in a common solvent. If the phenomena can be fully understood both the reinforcement and an increase in the proces- sability of isotropic polymers could be optimized. This book is intended to illustrate the current theories associated with the flow of LCPs and their blends in the hope that such an optimization will be achieved by future research. Chapter 1 introduces the subject of LCPs and describes the ter- minology used; Chapter 2 then discusses the more complex phenomena associated with these materials. In Chapter 3, the way in which these phe- nomena may be modelled using hamiltonians is fully covered.

The subject of liquid crystals and their use in electronic displays and in non-linear optical systems has become of tremendous importance during the last decade; and the incorporation of liquid crystal units into polymeric materials has led to a group of new materials with diverse properties. Some of these properties have been utilized in new products and some have yet to be used. Much published work has appeared that deals with specific materials or particular applications, and it was felt that a book was needed to examine and explain the underlying principles governing the diverse properties of these liquid crystal polymers, LCPs. The current work describes the diverse nature of LCPs, their synthesis, characterization, properties and finally their applications. It describes the manner in which liquid crystallinity or mesomorphism occurs in small molecules, monomer liquid crystals and polymer liquid crystals. Chapter 1 gives a classification of the various ways in which the meso­ gens may be connected to the polymer chains. Currently, the bulk of LCP material is based on main chain or longitudinal LCPs for use in engineering applications. The side chain or comb polymers are intended for use in electronics and opto-electronic systems and as surfactants. Many other variants and possibilities exist but their properties have not yet been fully studied or used. In this respect it is hoped that the current work will indicate future possibilities as well as discussing current opinion. v Preface vi Chapters 2 and 3 describe methods of characterizing the mesophases.