Polymeric liquid crystals

MAY 01, 1982

Giant molecules align spontaneously to form liquid crystals that have applications in areas ranging from electronic devices to ultra‐high‐strength materials.

DOI: 10.1063/1.2915093

Edward T. Samulski

Soft contact lenses and ablative heat shields for spacecraft require materials with vastly different physical properties. Yet the materials for both—permeable elastic membranes and tenacious high‐temperature composities—are products of polymer science.

References

1. A recent general review of this subject may be found in Polymer Liquid Crystals, A. Ciferri, W. R. Krigbaum, R. B. Meyer, eds., Academic, New York (1982).
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D. B. Du Pré, E. T. Samulski, in Liquid Crystals, F. D. Saeva, ed., Marcel Dekker, New York (1979) page 203.
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16. J. R. Fernandes, D. B. Du Pré, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. Lett. 72, 67 (1981) and private communication.
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More about the Authors

Edward T. Samulski. University of Connecticut, Storrs.