STUDIES ON THERMOTROPIC LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE ELASTOMERS .2. SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYESTER ELASTOMERS

Three series of novel thermotropic liquid crystalline polyester elastomers (TLCPEEs) were prepared by direct polycondensation from terephthalic acid, polyols (M(n) = 1000 or 2000), and various diols. The structures and thermal properties of the synthesized TLCPEEs were examined by FTIR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermal optical polarized microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and wide-angle x-ray diffraction. The effects of kinds and amount of diols and the molecular weight of polyols on the thermal properties of TLCPEEs were studied. By introducing long flexible spacers (PE-1000 or PE-2000) into the polymer main chain, ail polymers showed two-phase morphology under the thermal optical microscopic observation. All of the synthesized polymers, except polymer P1-BPA60 and P2-BPA60, which were prepared from BPA, exhibited thermotropic liquid crystalline properties that were in the smectic phase. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.