GLASS-TRANSITION IN SEMICRYSTALLINE SYSTEMS

The investigation of amorphous layers between crystalline structures allows the estimation of glass transition length scales. Low molecular mass liquid crystals can form semicrystalline structures with amorphous regions smaller than 1 nm. In such structures we are able to investigate the breakdown of the co-operative molecular motions associated with the glass transition. The mixing of two liquid crystalline sulfur-bridged benzoates allowed the crystalline structure of the sample to vary. First calorimetric and dielectric investigations of different crystallized mixtures show significant differences in the relaxation behavior in the glass transition region.