Abstract:

The formation and structure of lyotropic liquid crystal of poly(sodium sulfoalkyl methacrylates)(PSSRMA) with different alkyl side chain length were studied. It is showed that the lyotropic liquid crystal could be formed for PSSRMA-H2O system. The d-spacings of these polymers are in the range of 16.35-12.26 nm, which are much more than those formed by ordinary amphiphilic molecules. The micelles made up of single chain of PSSRMA polymers were arranged in order of hexagon or lamella to form lyotropic liquid crystal phase .The shorter the side chain of the PSSRMA, the longer the d-spacing of the formed liquid crystal and vice versa. It is supposed that the electrostatic repulsion between two neighboring charged groups will be stronger for the shorter side chain due to a closer molecular arrangement, making the polymer chain extending and less flexible.

Key words: Lyotropic liquid crystal, Poly(Sodium Sulfoalky Methacrylate)