Thermal analysis and X-ray studies of chiral ferroelectric liquid crystalline materials and their binary mixtures

• Published in: Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 2005-11, Vol.82 (2), p.519-523
• Main Authors: Obadović, Dusanka Ž., Vajda, Anikó, Garić, Maya, Bubnov, A., Hamplová, Vera, Kašpar, M., Fodor-Csorba, Katalin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1388-6150; 1572-8943; 0368-4466
• DOI: 10.1007/s10973-005-0926-9

Thermal properties of a homologous series of ferroelectric liquid crystals S-(-)-[4-(2-n-alkoxy-propionyloxy)]biphenyl-4'-[n-alkoxy-(3,5-dimethyl)]ben zoate have been investigated by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The mesophases were identified and confirmed by X-ray too. Three binary mixtures were prepared from the individual homologues. In one of the mixtures (Mix1), the ferroelectric SmC* phase has broadened and became enantiotropic. This mesophase remained monotropic in the other two mixtures (Mix2, Mix3). The chiral nematic N* phase did not appear in Mix1, but remained monotropic for the other two mixtures. Two molecular parameters, the layer spacing and the average intermolecular distance have been calculated from the X-ray results for the homologues and their mixtures. An intercalated tail-to-tail packing of molecules was found both in the single compounds and their mixtures resulting in the layer spacing about half of the molecular length of the single compounds.