Effect of substituents on the curing of liquid crystalline epoxy resin

The synthesis of an aromatic ester based liquid crystalline epoxy resin (LCE) with a substituent in the mesogenic central group is described. Chlorine and methyl groups were introduced as substituents. The curing behaviors of three epoxy resins were investigated using diaminodiphenyl ester as the curing agent. The curing rate and heat of curing of LCE were measured with dynamic and isothermal DSC. The chlorine substituent accelerated the curing of LCE, while the methyl substituent decelerated the curing of LCE. The heat of curing of substituted LCE was diminished compared to LCE with no substituent. Glass transition temperature and elastic modulus of LCE decreased with increasing the size of the substituent. Three liquid crystalline epoxy resins based on aromatic ester mesogenic groups formed a liquid crystalline phase after curing, and the liquid crystalline phase was stable up to the decomposition temperature. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.