Abstract: Anew series of side chain liquid crystal polymers based on the backbone of polymethacrylate containing 4-nitroazobenzene and 4-methoxybiphenyl group as side chain mesogen were prepared and characterized, FTIR, ¹H NMR, POMand WAXDwere used to study the structure, phase behavior and mesophase texture of this series of SCLCcopolymers. The researches show that polymer PM5MPPand copolymer M5MPP/MMEANBare enantiotropic liquid crystalline polymers, but polymer PMMEANBhas no liquid crystalline properties. DSCresults showed that the thermal stability of the mesophase of this series of copolymers was enhanced by the existence of intermolecular electron donor-acceptor interaction. It was found that the temperature range of the mesophase of the copolymers was broadened with increasing 4-nitroazobenzene units. The focal-conic texture observed by POMindicated that this series of the copolymers possessed the characteristics of smectic liquid crystal.

Key words: Synthesis, Side-chain liquid crystalline polymer, Copolymers, Phase of liquid crystal