FERROELECTRIC LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE SIDE-GROUP POLYMERS - SPACER LENGTH VARIATION AND COMPARISON WITH THE MONOMERS

The phase behaviour and the ferroelectric properties of liquid-crystalline side group polyacrylates containing an (R)-4''-(1-methylheptyloxy)-4'-biphenylyloxycarbonyl-4-phenoxy moiety are compared with the properties of their monomers. A S(C)* phase polymorphism including monolayer and bilayer structures was found for the polymers. Some of the S(C)* subphases, consisting of smectic mono- or bi-layers, do not exhibit ferroelectric properties. These unusual properties do not exist for the corresponding monomeric acrylates. Therefore, one has to take into account that the polymer chain exerts a strong influence on the phase behaviour and the ferroelectric properties.