Self-ordering process of phenanthrene polyesters observed by the simultaneous DSC-XRD method

Phase transition behavior of polyesters derived from 2,7-phenanthrene dicarbonic acid diethylester and alkanediols with even methylene carbon number was investigated by the simultaneous DSC-XRD method. The smectic A phase was observed on cooling from the molten state. The transition entropy from the isotropic state to the smectic A phase was about 9.0 J mol-1 K-1, which depended on the methylene carbon number. The linear expansion coefficients, based on the (001) spacing of the crystalline phase at room temperature, were 1.3·10-4 K-1 (crystalline phase), 5.7·10-4 K-1 (crystallization region), 1.7·10-3 K-1 (smectic A phase) during cooling, and 1.5·10-4 K-1 (crystalline phase), and 1.0·10-3K-1(melting region) on heating.