The effects of substituent size and molecular weight on the liquid crystalline properties of poly(2-alkyl-1,4-phenylene terephthalate)s

A series of low molecular weight, thermotropic poly(2‐alkyl‐1,4‐phenylene terephthalate)s was prepared by the solution polycondensation reaction of terephthaloyl chloride and alkylhydroquinones containing n‐alkyl substituents of increasing size from methyl to dodecyl. Samples of the low molecular weight polymers so obtained were also further polycondensed in the solid state to obtain high molecular weight polymers. The liquid crystalline phase behaviors and textures were determined, and the effects of polymer structure and molecular weight on these properties are discussed. All of the polymers obtained formed thermotropic, nematic mesophases, which were less stable for the lower molecular weight polymers, as expected, than were the mesophases formed by the higher molecular weight polymers. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.