Abstract

This Thesis project describes the preparation of a series of novel Poly(ester-imide)s containing chiral centers, and their characterization for liquid crystallinity. The synthetic approach towards the incorporation of the chiral centers in the polymer backbone involved the reaction of α-amino carboxylic acid with trimellitic anhydride (TMA) or pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) to prepare the imide dicarboxylic acid monomers, which were melt polymerized with the respective diols containing two, three and five to ten methylene groups to obtain the Poly(ester-imide)s. The monomers were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and polarimetry. Characterization of the polymers was done by dilute solution viscosity, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing light microscopy. Inherent viscosity values ranged from 0.27 dl/g to 0.99 dl/g. The glass transition temperature values ranged from 11 °C for ten to 104 °C for two methylene groups in the polymer backbone, for the series containing the TMA molecule. Thermal decomposition occurred at temperatures well above 350 °C, for all of the polymers. No melting or crystallization transition was observed for this series of Poly(ester-imide)s. Polarization light microscope studies show very low birefringence. No evidence of mesomorphism was seen.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Polymer liquid crystals; Polyesters; Polymer melting; Polymer solutions

Publication Date

1-1993

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Advisor

Jerry M. Adduci

Comments

Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at QD923 .F74 1993

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Download

Share

COinS