Effect of the tail-group length and degree of polymerization on the order parameter of side-chain liquid-crystalline polymethacrylates containing phenylbenzoate mesogenic groups

The orientation of the side-chain liquid-crystalline polymers (LCP) containing phenylbenzoate mesogenic groups in the magnetic field was examined with H-2 NMR spectroscopy. The influence of the degree of polymerization as well as the length of the methylene tail group (n = 1-4) have been established. The decrease of the order parameter S of the LCPs with an increased length of the tail group was found. The order parameter S of LCPs does not depend on the degree of polymerization. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.