Maleimide copolymers containing azobenzene moieties – synthesis and study of liquid crystalline and optical properties

Abstract

New reactive copolymers have been synthesized by copolymerization of two functional N-substituted-maleimides with styrene. These copolymers, with aldehyde and carboxyl functional groups, were further chemically modified with p-aminoazobenzene. After verification of the chemical structures by IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, the copolymers were characterized by solubility, X-ray diffraction measurements and their thermal stability was controlled by thermogravimetrical analysis (TGA). The thermal and thermotropic properties were investigated using polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A comparative study of the photoisomerization in solution and thermal recovery characteristics of azo copolymers vs. the corresponding maleimide model compound has been performed.