Ferroelectric liquid crystalline polysiloxanes containing a naphthalene moiety

Abstract

The synthesis and thermal properties of side-chain liquid-crystalline polysiloxanes containing a naphthalene moiety are described. The hydrosilylation of the monomers (-alkenenaphthoic acid derivatives) with poly(hydrogenmethylsiloxane) resulted in the desired ferroelectric polymers. Two series of polymers were prepared using two slightly different core unit structures. Preliminary results of optical polarising microscopy and differential scanning calorimetric investigations are reported. The polymers show smectic A and chiral smectic C phases.