A novel approach to the tailoring of polymers for advanced composites and optical applications, involving the synthesis of liquid crystalline epoxy resins

The authors describe the features of liquid crystalline epoxy resins having both high and low crosslinking densities. These materials seem to be very promising as matrices in advanced composites and in optical and electro-optical applications because of their peculiar properties. The importance of factors like molecular rigidity, nature of the curing agent, and curing temperature for the development of such properties are analyzed. The authors showed that amines produce thermosets having high T(g)s and high fracture toughness. In particular, the enhancement of this last parameter is very promising if a new generation of matrices is to be sought for manufacturing composites. In the case of acids as curing agents, thermosets having lower T(g)s and more ordered mesophases can be obtained. In this case, LC elastomers can be prepared that can find applications in the optical industry as waveguides or electro-optical devices.