STRUCTURE AND MOBILITY WITHIN ANISOTROPIC NETWORKS OBTAINED BY PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION OF LIQUID-CRYSTAL MOLECULES

Liquid crystalline mixtures of mono- and diacrylates were polymerized after macroscopic orientation of the molecules. Refractive indices of the mixtures were investigated both in the LC phase and after polymerization in the macroscopically oriented state. In this way the effect of cross-link density on the optical anisotropy was measured and correlated with order parameter measurements using infrared dichroism. Dielectric measurements were also carried out to investigate the effect of cross-linking on the movement of the side groups around the main chain. Association between the molecules and its consequences on the polymerization kinetics, the network structure, and the dielectric behavior of the molecules was demonstrated.