This book covers developments in the field of thermotropic liquid crystals and their functional importance. It also presents advances related to different sub-areas pertinent to this interdisciplinary area of research. This text brings together research from synthetic scientists and spectroscopists and attempts to bridge the gaps between these areas. New physical techniques that are powerful in characterizing these materials are discussed.

Annotation Liquid crystal polymers are sometimes called super polymers--with good reason. Their wide range of exceptional properties and ease of processing make them design candidates for many demanding applications. This new book provides a thorough review of LCP technology with the emphasis on the chemistry, synthesis and characterization of the material in its many variants. Additional chapters cover processing and applications. From the Editor's Preface The field of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers has grown substantially in the last two decades, with fundamental research, publications, commercial products, and patents. In the 1980's, Dr. Ralph Miano led my colleagues and me at Hoechst Celanese in commercializing the first thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers, based on Dr. Gordon Calundann's composition patents. Today, more than seven companies have produced thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer materials, with at least 50 variants available. Hence, it is timely to compile a comprehensive review on the nature of this type of material and the ongoing progress in this field€. The goals of this book are to summarize previous work, provide new insights into this class of polymers, and add to the understanding of the formation of liquid crystallinity. This book covers a wide range of topics and addresses different disciplines in the field. The chapters are arranged as a learning scheme for the professional, from basic science to applied engineering. The first few chapters summarize the syntheses of various polyester, polyester-amid, and polyimide liquid crystalline polymers. The science and origins of liquid crystal formation are revealed. Next, we introduce the characterizations of these materials by their different chemical and physical aspects. Because most commercially available thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers have been used in the form of composites, we have also incorporated a chapter on polymer blends, detailing blending mechanisms and resultant properties. Two chapters on thermosetting liquid crystalline polymers integrate them with other topics, because of their unique importance and their applications for microelectronics and packaging. The final chapter deals with the engineering and processing aspects of thermoplastic liquid crystalline polymers for a variety of applications.

This volume contains an eclectic collection of 22 papers on liquid crystalline polymers presented at the Sixth Polymer Workshop, in the series sponsored by the European Science Foundation, entitled: 'Liquid Crystal Polymer Systems', in Gentofte, Denmark, 12-14 September 1983. Since a contribution to this volume was strictly voluntary, and in some cases represents a considerably expanded version of that which was presented, it is strictly speaking not correct to term this a 'proceedings'. A description of the aims and purposes of the European Science Foundation with respect to the polymer area has been presented in: Shell Polymers, Vol. 5, No.2, pp. 34-35, 1981. The papers given here represent a cross-section of current research interests in liquid crystalline polymers in the areas of theory, synthesis, characterization, structure-property relationships and applications. At least some of the current interest is motivated by attempts to practically exploit the novel properties of these materials in the developing tech nologies of high strength fibres and advanced materials for constructional purposes, but also for functional materials in the areas of information retrieval, electronics and opto-electronics applications. The editor wishes to thank all those involved for their courtesy and co-operation.

Advances in Liquid Crystals, Volume I is a collection of papers dealing with lyotropic and thermotropic liquid crystals. One paper discusses lyotropic liquid crystalline phases in systems of amphiphilic compounds, including the liquid crystalline phases, lyotropic liquid crystalline phase, the ""gel"" phases, and the transition between normal and reversed mesophases. Another paper describes the ordering and structure of liquid crystals by reviewing research work on X-ray analysis of thermotropic liquid crystals. One paper explains the studies made on the mesomorphic behavior of block copolymers, including the incompatibility, segregation, and organization of polymers. The paper notes that plastic crystals and liquid crystals are different manifestations of the duality of the melting process in molecular crystals, resulting in the loss of positional and orientation order. One paper describes the essential linear defects found in solid crystals, which have been researched in terms of the major role they play in macroscopic properties, particularly plasticity, as the defects or dislocations of translation. G. Friedel's work classifies liquid crystals into an intermediary symmetry composed of the nematic, the cholesteric, and the smectic phases. This intermediary symmetry occurs between the liquid type symmetry and the solid type symmetry. This collection can prove useful for researchers in liquid crystals and industrial scientists in the field of chemistry and polymer composites.

Liquid crystal polymers are sometimes called super polymers--with good reason. Their wide range of exceptional properties and ease of processing make them design candidates for many demanding applications. This new book provides a thorough review of LCP technology with the emphasis on the chemistry, synthesis and characterization of the material in its many variants. Additional chapters cover processing and applications. From the Editor's Preface The field of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers has grown substantially in the last two decades, with fundamental research, publications, commercial products, and patents. In the 1980's, Dr. Ralph Miano led my colleagues and me at Hoechst Celanese in commercializing the first thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers, based on Dr. Gordon Calundann's composition patents. Today, more than seven companies have produced thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer materials, with at least 50 variants available. Hence, it is timely to compile a comprehensive review on the nature of this type of material and the ongoing progress in this field.... The goals of this book are to summarize previous work, provide new insights into this class of polymers, and add to the understanding of the formation of liquid crystallinity. This book covers a wide range of topics and addresses different disciplines in the field. The chapters are arranged as a learning scheme for the professional, from basic science to applied engineering. The first few chapters summarize the syntheses of various polyester, polyester-amid, and polyimide liquid crystalline polymers. The science and origins of liquid crystal formation are revealed. Next, we introduce the characterizations of these materials by their different chemical and physical aspects. Because most commercially available thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers have been used in the form of composites, we have also incorporated a chapter on polymer blends, detailing blending mechanisms and resultant properties. Two chapters on thermosetting liquid crystalline polymers integrate them with other topics, because of their unique importance and their applications for microelectronics and packaging. The final chapter deals with the engineering and processing aspects of thermoplastic liquid crystalline polymers for a variety of applications.

Provides a comprehensive report on the synthesis, structure, rheology, processing, performance, and applications of liquid-crystalline polymers (LCPs). Discusses self-reinforced composites prepared through the melt processing of thermoplastics and thermotropic LCPs. Addresses current research efforts in making polymer-dispersed liquid crystals. Reports recent studies on the structure and phase behavior of mesophases. Describes the synthesis and properties of new main-chain and side-chain liquid-crystalline block copolymers, mesogen-jacketed LCPs, and liquid-crystalline thermosets.

Advances in Liquid Crystal Research and Applications, Volume 2 covers the proceedings of the Third Liquid Crystal Conference of the Socialist Countries. The book discusses several papers concerning the development and advancement of the research and application aspects of liquid crystals. The text is comprised of 52 chapters that are organized into four parts explaining an aspect of liquid crystal. Part I covers amphiphilic, while Part II discusses mesomorphic polymers. The third part tackles synthesis and the fourth part talks about the physical properties and applications. The book will be of great use to researchers and professionals whose line of work concerns liquid crystals.