Preparation and Characterization of Crosslinked Azobenzene Liquid-Crystalline Polymer Fibers

Abstract

We report the synthesis and physical properties of crosslinked liquid-crystalline polymer (CLCP) fibers consisting of a liquid-crystalline monomer and an acrylate monomer with a hydroxyl group that acts as a reactive site for crosslinking. By differential scanning calorimetry, the CLCP fibers showed a glass transition temperature around 60°C. Polarizing optical microscopy revealed that we obtained fibers with high orientation of mesogens along the fiber axis. The CLCP fibers showed deformations induced by heated the fiber to an isotropic phase.

Keywords:

• azobenzene
• fiber
• liquid crystal
• photoinduced bending

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