FORMATION AND TEXTURES OF ETHYL CYANOETHYL CELLULOSE ACRYLIC-ACID MESOPHASE

The formation, textures, and optic characteristics of the ethyl-cyanoethyl cellulose [(E-CE)C]/acrylic acid (AA) mesophase were studied using polarizing microscopy, spectrophotometry, and small-angle light scattering (SALS). The disklike, oily streak, planar, pseudoisotropic, polygonal textures and the texture of domains gathered randomly were observed in the mesophase. The polygonal texture in unitary mesomorphic solutions can be regarded as the texture from the combination of deformed mesophase aggregates with the disclike texture. The mesomorphic solution exhibits vivid colors when the concentration is about 42-52 wt % because of its selective reflection to visible light. The wavelength of the light that is selectively reflected shifts to the shorter wavelength, with increasing concentration. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.