Conformational structure of liquid-crystalline polyesters with mesogens and spacers in the main chain†

Abstract

The conformations of thermotropic polyesters with alternating mesogens and poly(methylene) spacers in the main chain were investigated by conformational calculations using the data of linear-dichroism IR-spectroscopy, X-ray analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The conformations of monomeric units and of the macromolecules as a whole in different phase-aggregated states were estimated. It is shown that in the liquid-crystalline (LC) state the polymer chains are strongly extended. The results are compared with the data of various theories of LC ordering.