Aspects of Side-Chain Liquid-Crystal Polymers, Especially Polysiloxanes, in Relation to Their Potential for Speciality Applications

Interest in side-chain liquid-crystal polymers for speciality applications, e.g. in data storage systems, in piezo-, pyro- and ferroelectric devices and in systems requiring non-linear optical characteristics, is increasing steadily. The most popular polymers under study are those of the side-chain polyacrylate, polymethacrylate and polysiloxane types, and reference is made to the potential of these systems for applications. Homopolymers and copolymers of the polysiloxane kind are concentrated upon. Particular emphasis is placed upon the requirement that, for applications as sophisticated as those noted above, the production of polymers with highly consistent properties is essential, and that if structure--property correlations are to be of assistance in working towards best polymer types, these must be derived from comparisons made between polymers with consistent DP and M sub w /M sub n . The main areas covered are: (i) the reproducible batch synthesis of side-chain polysiloxanes by the hydrosilylation process; (ii) the importance of establishing structure--property correlations for side-chain polymers and some relevant examples; (iii) Langmuir--Blodgett side-chain polysiloxanes; (iv) polysiloxanes with side-chains linked laterally to the backbone. 28 ref.--AA