THERMOTROPIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL POLYESTERS DERIVED FROM 4,4'-BIPHENYLDICARBOXYLIC ACID AND OXYALKYLENE SPACERS

Several polyesters derived from bibenzoic acid and oxyalkylene glycols have been prepared and the ability of formation of mesophases was studied. The phase behaviour was investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray diffraction and real-time variable-temperature small-angle X-ray diffraction. A common feature of all the studied polyesters, with ether groups in the spacer, is the inhibited ability for developing three-dimensional structures, in contrast to the polymers with all-methylene spacers. Moreover, the latter polymers show a monotropic mesophase behaviour but the former exhibit an enantiotropic transformation. Smectic structures of different types have been detected: the polyester derived from 3,3'-oxybis(1-propanol) produces a smectic S(A) structure, while the polyester from triethylene glycol leads to a smectic S(C) mesophase. The influence of the spacers on the dynamic mechanical relaxations of these polybibenzoates has been studied and discussed.