LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYESTERS WITH 2-DIMENSIONAL MESOGENIC UNITS

A series of thermotropic, liquid crystalline (LC) polyesters was prepared in which the mesogenic group contained an unusually large, polarizable pendant group in an attempt to increase intermolecular interactions so as to impart a more isotropic character to the mechanical properties of the solid polymer. The series included repeating units containing main chain, polymethylene flexible spacers of increasing lengths. All of the polymers formed stable nematic LC phases and had relatively low melting temperatures, but recrystallization from the melt was very slow in each case.