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As compared to engineering polymers (EPs) and polymer composites, polymer liquid crystals (PLCs) have many attractive properties. Moreover, ordinary equipment for thermoplastic processing can be used for PLCs; often PLCs have lower viscosities than EPs, or addition of a PLC to an EP lowers the viscosity of the latter by two orders of magnitude. This book covers inorganic, organic as well as non-covalently bonded PLCs. It describes their mechanical properties and performance, thermophysical characteristics, which is the basis for intelligent processing, and also relations between properties of blends and of individual components. A chapter on computer simulations, explaining how computer modeling is being used to develop stronger polymer-based composites, is included. This book will prove an invaluable reference to all those working with polymer liquid crystals and advanced materials.
List of contents
List of contributors. Part 1: Formation of polymer liquid crystals. Creation of liquid crystalline phases: A comparative view emphasizing structure and shape of monomer liquid crystals. Inorganic polymer liquid crystals. Design of polymer liquid crystals with non-covalent bonds. Morphology of thermotropic longitudinal polymer liquid crystals. Polymer liquid crystals in solution. Part 2: Thermophysical properties. Memory effects in polymer liquid crystals: influence of thermal history on phase behaviour. Longitudinal polymer liquid crystal + engineering polymer blends: miscibility and crystallization phenomena. Thermal expansivity. Part 3: Mechanical properties. Phase diagrams of polymer liquid crystals and polymer liquid crystal blends: relation to mechanical properties. Development and relaxation of orientation in pure polymer liquid crystals and blends. Flow-induced phenomena of lyotropic polymer liquid crystals: the negative normal force effect and bands perpendicular to shear. Creep and stress relaxation. Thermoreversible gelation of rigid rod-like and semirigid polymers. Elastic moduli of polymer liquid crystals. Computer simulations. Index.
Summary
As compared to engineering polymers (EPs) and polymer composites, polymer liquid crystals (PLCs) have various attractive properties. This book covers inorganic, organic as well as non-covalently bonded PLCs. It describes their mechanical properties and performance, thermophysical characteristics, which is the basis for intelligent processing.
