SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF TERMINALLY CARBOXYL ETHYLENE-GLYCOL MONOMETHYL ETHERS-SUBSTITUTED SIDE-CHAIN LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYSILOXANES

Alkene monomers containing phenyl or biphenyl carboxylate benzoate ester based on a mesogenic group of varied lengths of carboxyl oligo (ethanediol) monomethyl ethers as the terminal were synthesized. They were grafted onto poly (methyl-hydrosiloxane) by the platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation process. The thermal transition temperatures and mesophase textures of monomers and of polymers were characterized by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), x-ray diffraction, and polarized optical microscopy with a hot stage. The factors governing mesophase textures and thermal transition temperatures are discussed. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.