Swelling Behavior of Polybutadiene Networks in Nematic Liquid Crystal Solvents (STATES AND STRUCTURES-Polymer Condensed States) .

Abstract

Degree of equilibrium swelling (Q) of polybutadiene networks in four nematic liquid crystals (LCs) has been investigated as a function of temperature by cross-polarized microscopy. Phase behavior of the LCs in the networks has also been observed. It has been found that the nematic-to-isotropic phase transition temperatures of the LCs in the networks (TNI g) are slightly (ca. 1K) lower than the ones of the corresponding pure LCs (TNI o), and that the depression degrees of TNI in each system are comparable in spite of large differences in Q between every system. In the temperature regions of TNI g<T<TNI o where the LC phases inside and outside gel are different, Q is almost constant against temperature change.