• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.86-92
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• 2019

Polymers with various compositions of azobenzene and hexamethylene groups in the main chain were synthesized by a Schotten-Baumann reaction and their properties were investigated. The chemical structures and physical properties of the synthesized polymers were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, polarized optical microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. The polymers showed an inherent viscosity of 1.28-1.36 dl/g and were relatively insoluble in most organic solvents. The melt transition temperature increased rapidly with increasing number of azobenzene groups in the polymer. When the azobenzene monomer content was more than 50 mol%, no melting transition occurred below the decomposition temperature. Among the polymers with a melt transition temperature, the MP-A3C7 and MP-A5C5 polymers were liquid crystalline materials and exhibited a nematic phase with weak liquid crystallinity over a wide liquid crystal temperature range. This difference in the properties of the synthesized polymers is likely due to the changes in intermolecular forces resulting from the linearity and polarity of the trans-form of azobenzene.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.148-153
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• 1999

In situ composites containing a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer were prepared by polycondensation of 1,4-bis(p-hydroxy-benzoyloxy)butane with 2-bromoterephthaloyl chloride in a poly(methyl methacrylate) solution. Morphology and mechanical, thermal properties of the composites were examined by differential scanning calorimeter(DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analyser(DMTA), optical microscope and scanning electron microscope(SEM). The TLCP domains showed nematic phase. The glass transition temperature($T_g$) and mechanical properties of the PMMA in the composites increased with increasing the content of TLCP. The TLCP domains were finely dispersed in the PMMA matrix. The 20 wt % TLCP/PMMA composite prepared by in situ polymerization showed more improved mechanical property with finely well dispersed morphology compared with that prepared by solution blending of the same composition.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.176-180
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• 2005

The liquid crystalline properties of a series of main chain liquid crystalline polymers and four series compounds consisting of aromatic type Schiff base mesogenic units and polymethylene flexible spacers were studied. The thermal and liquid crystalline properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and on the hot stage of a polarizing microscope. The nature of the liquid crystalline phase of the polymers and compounds depended greatly on the length of the central polymethylene spacer and on the terminal alkoxy groups. Polymers I and Series III exhibited an even-odd effect in melting and isotropization temperatures but Series II and Series IV exhibited an even-odd effect in isotropization temperatures. They formed nematic and smectic mesophases in melts as judged by their optical textures observed through a polarizing microscope.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 1997

LCP/PA alloy was prepared by blending poly(${\varepsilon}-caprolactam$) (PA) with liquid crystal polyester, Vectra (LCP) having high elasticity and strength. The alloy prepared amorphous PA with more than 10 parts of thermotropic LCP had poor compatibility. To increase the compatibility of the alloy, compatibilizing agent, poly(glycinylmaleimide-co-methylmetacrylate)[poly(GMI-co-MMA)] copolymer was prepared by copolymerizing N-glycinylmaleimide(GMI) with methylmetacrylate(MMA). And then, it was blended with LCP and PA to produce LCP/PA alloy having an excellent compatibility. The compatibility characteristics of the alloy prepared from LCP and PA using the poly(GMI-co-MMA) was determined by measuring the thermal characteristics of glass transition temperature of nematic LCP, and rheological properties, and also high rate impact and flexual characteristics of the alloy were determined.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.416-422
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• 2009

4-(6-bromohexyloxy)benzoic acid was synthesized from benzyl 4-Hydroxybenzoate and 1,6-dibromohexane. It was reacted with hydroquinone to obtain a new mesogenic ester having an bromine group. One kind of new photoresponsive coumarin compound was prepared by the reaction of mesogenic ester with coumarin sensitive to the ultraviolet. Structures of the compound were identified by FT-IR and $^1H$-NMR spectroscopies. Their phase transition temperatures and thermal stability were also investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM) and x-ray diffraction analysis. From optical polarizing microscopy, the prepared compound was found to show enantiotropic liquid crystallinity with smectic and nematic textures.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 2011

The aqueous solution of Sunset Yellow-FCF (SY-FCF) began to show schlieren texture at room temperature when its concentration reaches 25 wt%. A further increase of the concentration of SY-FCF to 28 wt% resulted in a perfect nematic liquid crystal phase. However, more than 30 wt% of SY-FCF in aqueous solution was required to make an optically anisotropic film simply by shear coating. In our study, concentration of SY-FCF solution, coating speed, drying temperature, and relative humidity were considered as coating parameters affecting the preparation of optically anisotropic thin films. From analysis of variance analysis (ANOVA), the solution concentration was revealed as a main factor affecting the film thickness. The drying temperature and solution concentration were main factors affecting the transmittance of parallel direction ($T_o$). Especially, SY-FCF aqueous solution with high concentration induced a better alignment of LC columns and produced highly oriented anisotropic films. In this study, optically anisotropic films prepared by 33 wt% of SY-FCF in aqueous solution showed 89.7~98.7% of degree of polarization.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.244-257
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• 2002

A thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer(TLCP) which has flexible butylene/hexylene spacers in the main chain and a triad aromatic ester type mesogenic unit containing a naphthyl group was prepared by solution polycondensation. The in-situ composites based on poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate) (PEN) and a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer(TLCP) were prepared and melt spun at different TLCP contents and different draw ratios to produce monofilaments. Blends of the TLCP with PEN were investigated in terms of thermal, mechanical properties and morphology. The TLCP synthesized showed nematic mesophasic behavior and its transition temperature to isotropic melt from mesophase was 249℃. The blends showed well dispersed TLCP phases in the PEN matrix without macroscopic phase separation. Inclusion of TLCP in the blends decreased the cold crystallization temperature of PEN in the blend, therefore, the TLCP acts as a nucleating agent in the blend and showed good interfacial adhesion between the dispersed LCP phases and PEN matrix with domain sizes 40~50 nm in diameter and well developed fibrillation in the monofilaments. The TLCP acted effectively as a reinforcing material in the PEN matrix at the 10wt% level, it led to an increase of initial modulus up to 270% and tensile strength by 235%, while the elongation rate increasing with higher draw ratios.