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Abstract
Liquid crystalline copolyester (LCC)/organically modified-montmorillonite (OMMT) nanocomposite films were prepared by a solvent casting method with different OMMT contents, using p-chlorophenol as a solvent. Both LCC and LCC/OMMT were heat treated to obtain the smectic structure. To examine their internal structure and morphology, the prepared LCC/OMMT nanocomposite films were characterized by an X-ray diffraction method and TEM (transmission electron microscopy). The d-spacing of the silicate layers for each LCC/OMMT nanocomposite film was shifted, indicating that the OMMT particles were dispersed in the LCC matrix and formed intercalated structures. Thermal characteristics of the LCC/OMMT nanocomposite films were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and thermo-mechanical analysis (TMA). The gel-to-liquid crystal transition (Tc-lc) and degradation temperatures (Td) of both LCC and LCC/OMMT nanocomposite films with different heat treatment time were examined. The Tc-lc and Td of the LCC/OMMT were found to be enhanced compared with those of the LCC film, exhibiting their improved thermal characteristics.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by Dong Woo Fine Chem. Co., Korea. Authors also thank Sumitomo Chemical for providing the LCC varnish.
