Relationship between the structure of the bridging group and curing of liquid crystalline epoxy resins

Abstract

The influence of the bridging group between the mesogenic group and the oxirane ring on the curing behavior and the liquid crystalline phase of liquid crystalline epoxy (LCE) resins was investigated. Two LCE resina containing ether and ester bridging groups were synthesized for this purpose. The ether linkage stabilized the liquid crystalline phase of the LCE and the LCE network more than the ester linkage. The retardation effect of curing was observed in LCE with the ester linkage. The LCE with the ether bridge showed higher mechanical and thermal properties than that with the ester bridge. The liquid crystalline phase of the LCE monomer remained after the crosslinking reaction and it was stable up to 300 degrees C. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.