FERROELECTRIC SILOXANE HOMOPOLYMERS AND FLUORESCENT COPOLYMERS

Abstract

Ferroelectric and fluorescent ferroelectric side chain polysiloxanes were synthesized by coupling two- or three-ring mesogen ferroelectric monomers and up to 13 mol per cent of a blue fluorescent naphthalic imide dye comonomer to a H-siloxane backbone. The polymers were characterized by GPC, DSC, X-ray, microscopy and electro-optic techniques. Polymers exhibiting very broad S_c* phases (up to ~125 K) are described. In favourable cases we achieved fluorescent polymers with high tilt angles (30°) exhibiting low threshold ferroelectric switching close to room temperature (~34°C).