Order and Dynamics of a Series of Side Chain Liquid Crystal Copolymers through <SUP>2</SUP>H NMR Spectroscopy

The order and dynamics of the mesogenic groups in a series of side chain liquid crystal copolymers were investigated in their nematic phase through ²H NMR. The main chain is built with a variable content of randomly distributed acrylic and methacrylic units, while the mesogenic groups are based on a phenyl benzoate moiety which is labeled on one phenyl ring. The analysis of the orientational order together with the spectral densities J<INF>1</INF>(ω<INF>0</INF>) and J<INF>2</INF>(2ω<INF>0</INF>) revealed a certain degree of heterogeneity concerning both the order of the mesogens a and m respectively bound to the acrylic and the methacrylic monomers and their dynamics. In fact, mesogens m are more ordered than a and characterized by slower motions. The processes mainly contributing to relaxation proved to be the rotation of the phenyl ring about its para-axis and the spinning of the whole mesogenic unit.