Theory for first super-strong liquid-crystalline polymers

Abstract

This paper presents a unique microscopic molecular theory for liquid-crystalline polymers (LCPs). In the following paper, this theory is used to predict and design (atom by atom, bond by bond) the first super-strong (SS) LCPs. This paper here compares the results calculated from this theory with available experimental data for different kinds of existing LCPs. The theory presented in this paper treats backbone LCPs, side-chain LCPs, combined LCPs, and low-molecular-weight LC materials in the isotropic liquid phase, in the nematic LC phase, and in multiple smectic-A LC phases. In this paper here, we see that results calculated using this theory are in very good agreement with available experimental data for various existing LCPs. Specifically, the relative deviations between the theoretical and experimental results presented here vary from 0% to less than 6.2%. This agreement gives us considerable confidence in the use of this theory in the following paper to predict and design the first SS LCPs.