Synthesis, characterization and coating applications of liquid crystalline acrylic copolymers

The synthesis and characterization of the coating properties of liquid crystalline acrylic copolymers containing p-hydroxybenzoic acid as mesogenic group are described. The synthetic method involves the grafting of p-hydroxybenzoic acid onto acrylic copolymers, confirmed by characterization with IR and H-1 NMR techniques. The presence of liquid crystal was assessed by observing optical textures under the polarizing microscope and by DSC and TGA. The coating properties such as flexibility, hardness, adhesion, drying time, viscosity, etc. of acrylic copolymers as well as of liquid crystalline acrylic copolymers were studied. The results showed that LC polymers have potential for coating applications.