Phase Properties of Interpenetrating Polymer Networks and Liquid Crystals

Abstract

The phase behavior of interpenetrating acrylic polymer network/liquid crystal systems was investigated. The crosslinked polymers were obtained by UV-curing of initial solutions containing a reactive monomer, a crosslinker and a photoinitiator. Experimental phase diagrams were established using polarizing optical microscopy observations of the variation of equilibrium swelling of polymer/liquid crystal systems with temperature. The experimental data were rationalized within a combination of the Flory-Rehner theory of isotropic mixing and the Maier-Saupe theory of nematic ordering.