Abstract: A polymer of the following formula: ##STR1## wherein m is an integer from 1 to 100; n is an integer from 0 to 3; each of X and Y, independently, is biphenyl, 1,4-phenylene, or halogen-substituted 1,4-phenylene; and Z is R, --O--(C.dbd.O)--R, or --(C.dbd.O)--O--R, wherein R is selected from (2R)-2-(C.sub.4-8 alkyl), (1S,2S)-1-halo-2-methyl-1-(C.sub.3-5 alkyl), (2S)-2-methyl-1-(C.sub.4-7 alkyl), (2S)-1-halo-2-methyl-3-propyl, and (2S)-3-halo-2-methyl-1-(C.sub.4-7 alkyl); anda monomer of the following formula:H.sub.2 C.dbd.CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.n --O--X--(C.dbd.O)--O--Y--Zwherein n is an integer from 0 to 3; each of X and Y independently is biphenyl, 1,4-phenylene, or halogen-substituted 1,4-phenylene; and Z is R, --O--(C.dbd.O)--R, or --(C.dbd.O)--O--R, wherein R is selected from (2R)-2-(C.sub.4-8 alkyl), (1S,2S)-1-halo-2-methyl-1-(C.sub.3-5 alkyl), (2S)-2-methyl-1-(C.sub.5-7 alkyl), (2S)-1-halo-2-methyl-3-propyl, and (2S)-3-halo-2-methyl-1-(C.sub.4-7 alkyl).

Abstract: A chiral smectic liquid crystalline polymer having the following formula is disclosed: ##STR1## wherein m is an integer of about 40-80; n is an integer of about 1-12;R is ethylene or trimethylene;R' is methylene or oxyethylene;Ar is phenylene, chlorophenylene or ##STR2## wherein x is chlorine or hydrogen; and Ar' is phenylene or phenylenecarbonyl.

Abstract: A side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxane having the following formula is disclosed: ##STR1## wherein Me is methyl; m is an integer of 40 to 80; n is an integer of 1 to 12; Ar is phenylene, biphenylene or naphthalene; Ar' is phenylene or naphthalene; X is halogen or methyl; and R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl.

Abstract: An optically erasable read-and-write liquid crystal/side-chain liquid crystalline polymer composition, and method of making recordation on the same, are disclosed. The liquid crystal/side-chain liquid crystalline polymer composition of the present invention comprises: (1) from 45% to 85% of a nematic type ester-based liquid crystal and (2) from 15% to 55% of side-chain polymethylsiloxane liquid crystalline polymer having a molecular weight between about 4,000 to 10,000. The side-chain polymethylsiloxane polymer is prepared by graft-polymerization of a biphenyl derivative having a terminal saturated or unsaturated alkyl group, which can be either symmetrical or asymmetrical, with a polymethylsiloxane to form the liquid crystal side-chain polymethylsiloxane polymer of the present invention. Data are recordable on the recording medium of the present invention using a laser beam heating, and are erasable by applying an external electrical field.

Abstract: A side-chain liquid crystalline polymer containing crown ether based mesogens having the following structure ##STR1## wherein the polymer backbone is at least partially grafted by the crown ether based mesogens with oligo(methylene) or oligo(oxyethylene) spacers.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ionic conducting polymer electrolyte which is a complex compound prepared from an alkali metal salt and a side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxane of the formula ##STR1## wherein Me=--CH.sub.3 ; m is an integer of 1-5; x=10-100%, y=O-90%; and Mw(polysiloxane backbone)=1,000-15,000.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of synthesizing a bigraft compolymer based on grafted type peracid polymer, which comprises graft polymerizing a first ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a carboxyl group onto a polymer substrate having a form of a membrane, particulate or tube; oxidizing the carboxyl groups of the resulting graft polymer into peracids; and then graft polymerizing a second ethylenically unsaturated monomer onto the grafted chain of the graft polymer through the decomposition of the peracid. Surface profile and morphology of the bigraft copolymer membrane product is also investigated by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy respectively.