A Study of Phase Change in Langmuir-Blodgett Films of Mesomorphic Side-Chain Polymers

Langmuir-Blodgett films of mesomorphic side-chain poly(methacrylates) are investigated from the point of view of their phase change versus temperature via X-ray and neutron reflectivity together with atomic force microscopy measurements. Upon heating, «thick» films undergo an irreversible transition toward the wellknown smectic Ar lamellar phase. In contrast, a bilayer deposited onto a solid substrate appears to be very stable upon annealing. Such a behavior is believed to induce an epitaxial mechanism when cooling «thick» films from the isotropic melt phase