Phase equilibria of a mixture of side-chain liquid crystalline polymer and low molecular mass liquid crystal

A side-chain liquid crystalline polymer based on p-niethoxyphenyl-p'-acryloyloxy benzoate was synthesized for utilization in a polyrner dispersed liquid crystal. Phase diagram of the blends of side-chain liquid crystalline polymer and low molecular mass liquid crystal (K21) was established by means of light scattering and differential scanning calorimetry. A theoretical phase diagram was established by self-consistently solving the combined free energy densities of Flory-Huggins. Maier-Saupe, and phase field theory of solidification. The theoretical phase diagram was established to compare with the observed phase diagram of the binary mesogenic mixtures. showing the isotropic. isotropic + nematic (L-1 + N-2), nematic + nematic (N-1 + N-2), and crystal + nematic (Cr-1 + N2) coexistence regions. The morphologies of these coexistence regions were further confirmed by polarized optical microscopy.