Abstract
The kinetics of the isotropic-to-smectic A transition of poly(p-biphenylyl acrylate) has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The parameter n of the Avrami equation has been found to be of ca. 3. The calculated formation energy of the nuclei is 40-50 KJ mole−1. From the thermal data, it is concluded that, in this polymer, a fraction of amorphous material is present together with the mesophase, and the relative amounts of the two phases varies with the thermal history.