Liquid-crystalline polymer composition

Claim 2

A liquid-crystalline polymer composition comprising a ferroelectric liquid-crystalline polymer (A) and a low molecular weight liquid-crystalline compound (B) which exhibits smectic C phase or chiral smectic C phase and which is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 2-methylbutyl 4'-(4"-decyloxybenzoyloxy)biphenyl-4-carboxylate and 2-methylbutyl 4'-(4"-octyloxybenzoyloxy)biphenyl-4-carboxylate; the weight ratio of the ferroelectric liquid-crystalline polymer (A) to the low molecular weight liquid-crystalline compound (B), (A)/(B) being in the range of 99/1 to 50/50 and the ferroelectric liquid-crystalline polymer being a polyether consisting essentially of the repeating units represented by the following general formula: ##STR49## wherein, k is an integer of 1 to 30, R 1 is ##STR50## X is --COO-- or --OCO--, R 2 is --COOR 3 , --OCOR 3 , --OR 3 or --R 3 , wherein R 3 is a radical represented by the following general formula: ##STR51## wherein m and n are each independently an integer of 0 to 9, q is 0 (zero) or 1, R 4 and R 5 are each independently --CH 3 , a halogen radical or --CN, with the proviso that n is not 0 (zero) when R 5 is --CH 3 , C* is an asymmetric carbon atom, C(*) is an asymmetric carbon atom when n is not 0 (zero).

Claim 3

The liquid-crystalline polymer composition according to claim 1 wherein the ferroelectric liquid-crystalline polymer is a polyether having the repeating units represented by the following formula: ##STR52##

Claim 4

A liquid-crystalline polymer composition comprising a ferroelectric liquid-crystalline polymer (A) and a low molecular weight liquid-crystalline compound (B) which exhibits smectic C phase or chiral smectic C phase and which is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of alkyl 4'-alkoxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate, alkyl 4-(4'-alkoxybenzoyloxy) benzoate, 4'-alkoxyphenyl 4-alkoxybenzoate, 4'-alkoxyphenyl 4'-alkoxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate, 4"-(alkoxycarbonyl)phenyl 4'-alkoxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate, 4"-(alkoxycarbonyl)biphenyl-4'-yl 4-alkoxybenzoate, 4"-alkoxybiphenyl-4'-yl 4-alkoxybenzoate, alkyl 4-(4'-alkoxyphenylazo)benzoate, 4-(4'-alkoxyphenylazo)-1-acyloxybenzene, 4,4'-dialkoxyazobenzene, 4-(4'-alkoxyphenylazo)-1-alkylbenzene, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazo)-4'-alkoxycarbonlbiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazo)-4'-alkylbiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazo)-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazo)-4'-acyloxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkylphenylazo)-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-acyloxphenylazo)-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxycarbonylphenylazo)-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4'-alkoxyphenyl 4-alkylbenzoate, 4'-alkoxyphenyl 4-acyloxybenzoate, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenyloxycarbonyl)-4'-alkylbiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenyloxycarbonyl)-4'-acyloxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenyloxycarbonyl)-4'-alkoxycarbonylbiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazoxy)-1-alkylbenzene, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazoxy)-1-acyloxybenzene, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazoxy)-1-alkoxybenzene, alkyl 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazoxy)benzoate, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazoxy)-4'-alkylbiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazoxy)-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazoxy)-4'-acyloxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazoxy)-4'-alkoxycarbonylbiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkylphenylazoxy)-4-alkoxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-acyloxyphenylazoxy)-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxycarbonylphenylazoxy)-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4-alkoxy-N-(4'-alkylbenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkoxy-N-(4'-alkoxybenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkoxy-N-(4'-acyloxybenzylidene)aniline, 4-acyloxy-N-(4'-alkoxybenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkoxycarbonn yl-N-(4'-alkoxybenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkoxy-N-(4'-alkoxycarbonylbenzylidene)aniline, 4-(4'-alkylphenyl)-N-(4"-alkoxybenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkoxy-N-[4'-(4"-alkylphenyl)benzylidene]aniline, 4-(4'-alkoxyphenyl)-N-(4"-alkoxybenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkoxy-N-[4'-(4 "-alkoxyphenyl)benzylidene]aniline, 4-(4'-acyloxyphenyl)-N-(4"-alkoxybenzylidene]aniline, 4-alkoxy-N-[4'-(4"-acyloxyphenyl)benzylidene]aniline, 4-(4'-alkoxycarbonylphenyl)-N-(4"-alkoxybenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkoxy-N-[4'-(4"-alkoxycarbonylphenyl)benzylidene]aniline, 4-alkyl-N-[4'-(4"-alkoxyphenyl)benzylidene]aniline, 4-(4'-alkoxyphenyl)-N-(4"-alkylbenzylidene)aniline, 4-acyloxy-N-[4'-(4"-alkoxyphenyl)benzylidene]aniline, 4-(4'-alkoxyphenyl)-N-(4"-acyloxybenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkoxycarbonyl-N-[4'-(4"-alkoyphenyl)benzylidene]aniline, 4-(4'-alkoxyphenyl)-N-(4"-alkoxycarbonylbenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkyl-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4,4'-dialkoxybiphenyl, 4-acyloxy-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4-alkyl-4"-alkoxyterphenyl, 4,4"-dialkoxyterphenyl, 4-acyloxy-4"-alkoxyterphenyl, and 4-alkoxycarbonyl-4-alkoxyterphenyl wherein each of alkyl group and alkoxyl group has 1 to 20 carbon atoms and acyloxy group is an alkylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 21 carbon atom; the weight ratio of the ferroelectric liquid-crystalline polymer (A) to the low molecular weight liquid-crystalline compound (B), (A)/(B) being in the range of 99/1 to 50/50 and the ferroelectric liquid crystalline polymer being a polyether consisting essentially of the repeating units represented by the following general formula: ##STR53## wherein k is an integer of 1 to 30, R 1 is ##STR54## X is --COO-- or --OCO--, R 2 is --COOR 3 , --OCOR 3 , --OR 3 or --R 3 , wherein R 3 is a radical represented by the following general formula: ##STR55## wherein m and n are each independently an integer of 0 to 9, q is 0 or 1, R 4 and R 5 are each independently --CH 3 , a halogen radical or --CN, with the proviso that n is not 0 when R 5 is --CH 3 , C* is an asymmetric carbon atom, C(*) is an asymmetric carbon atom when n is not 0.

Claim 5

A liquid-crystalline polymer composition comprising a ferroelectric liquid-crystalline polymer (A) and a low molecular weight liquid-crystalline compound (B) which exhibits smectic C phase or chiral smectic C phase and which is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of alkyl 4'-alkoxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate, alkyl 4-(4'-alkoxybenzoyloxy) benzoate, 4'-alkoxyphenyl 4-alkoxybenzoate, 4'-alkoxyphenyl 4'-alkoxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate, 4"-(alkoxycarbonyl)phenyl 4'-alkoxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate, 4"-(alkoxycarbonyl)biphenyl-4'-yl 4-alkoxybenzoate, 4"-alkoxybiphenyl-4'-yl 4-alkoxybenzoate, alkyl 4-(4'-alkoxyphenylazo)benzoate, 4-(4'-alkoxyphenylazo)-1-acyloxybenzene, 4,4'-dialkoxyazobenzene, 4-(4'-alkoxyphenylazo)-1-alkylbenzene, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazo)-4'-alkoxycarbonlbiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazo)-4'-alkylbiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazo)-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazo)-4'-acyloxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkylphenylazo)-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-acyloxphenylazo)-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxycarbonylphenylazo)-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4'-alkoxyphenyl 4-alkylbenzoate, 4'-alkoxyphenyl 4-acyloxybenzoate, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenyloxycarbonyl)-4'-alkylbiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenyloxycarbonyl)-4'-acyloxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenyloxycarbonyl)-4'-alkoxycarbonylbiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazoxy)-1-alkylbenzene, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazoxy)-1-acyloxybenzene, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazoxy)-1-alkoxybenzene, alkyl 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazoxy)benzoate, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazoxy)-4'-alkylbiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazoxy)-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazoxy)-4'-acyloxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxyphenylazoxy)-4'-alkoxycarbonylbiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkylphenylazoxy)-4-alkoxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-acyloxyphenylazoxy)-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4-(4"-alkoxycarbonylphenylazoxy)-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4-alkoxy-N-(4'-alkylbenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkoxy-N-(4'-alkoxybenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkoxy-N-(4'-acyloxybenzylidene)aniline, 4-acyloxy-N-(4'-alkoxybenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkoxycarbonn yl-N-(4'-alkoxybenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkoxy-N-(4'-alkoxycarbonylbenzylidene)aniline, 4-(4'-alkylphenyl)-N-(4"-alkoxybenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkoxy-N-[4'-(4"-alkylphenyl)benzylidene]aniline, 4-(4'-alkoxyphenyl)-N-(4"-alkoxybenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkoxy-N-[4'-(4 "-alkoxyphenyl)benzylidene]aniline, 4-(4'-acyloxyphenyl)-N-(4"-alkoxybenzylidene]aniline, 4-alkoxy-N-[4'-(4"-acyloxyphenyl)benzylidene]aniline, 4-(4'-alkoxycarbonylphenyl)-N-(4"-alkoxybenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkoxy-N-[4'-(4"-alkoxycarbonylphenyl)benzylidene]aniline, 4-alkyl-N-[4'-(4"-alkoxyphenyl)benzylidene]aniline, 4-(4'-alkoxyphenyl)-N-(4"-alkylbenzylidene)aniline, 4-acyloxy-N-[4'-(4"-alkoxyphenyl)benzylidene]aniline, 4-(4'-alkoxyphenyl)-N-(4"-acyloxybenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkoxycarbonyl-N-[4'-(4"-alkoyphenyl)benzylidene]aniline, 4-(4'-alkoxyphenyl)-N-(4"-alkoxycarbonylbenzylidene)aniline, 4-alkyl-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4,4'-dialkoxybiphenyl, 4-acyloxy-4'-alkoxybiphenyl, 4-alkyl-4"-alkoxyterphenyl, 4,4"-dialkoxyterphenyl, 4-acyloxy-4"-alkoxyterphenyl, and 4-alkoxycarbonyl-4-alkoxyterphenyl wherein each of alkyl group and alkoxyl group has 1 to 20 carbon atoms and acyloxy group is an alkylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 21 carbon atom; the weight ratio of the ferroelectric liquid-crystalline polymer (A) to the low molecular weight liquid-crystalline compound (B), (A)/(B) being in the range of 99/1 to 50/50 and the ferroelectric liquid crystalline polymer being a polyether consisting essentially of the repeating units represented by the following general formula: ##STR53## wherein k is an integer of 1 to 30, R 1 is ##STR54## X is --COO-- or --OCO--, R 2 is --COOR 3 , --OCOR 3 , --OR 3 or --R 3 , wherein R 3 is a radical represented by the following general formula: ##STR55## wherein m and n are each independently an integer of 0 to 9, q is 0 or 1, R 4 and R 5 are each independently --CH 3 , a halogen radical or --CN, with the proviso that n is not 0 when R 5 is --CH 3 , C* is an asymmetric carbon atom, C(*) is an asymmetric carbon atom when n is not 0.

Claim 6

The liquid-crystalline polymer composition as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ferroelectric liquid-crystalline polymer is a polyether having the repeating units represented by the following formula: ##STR56##

Claim 7

The liquid-crystalline polymer composition as claimed in claim 3, wherein the low molecular weight liquid-crystalline compound is 2-methylbutyl 4'-(4"-decyloxybenzoyloxy)biphenyl-4-carboxylate,

Claim 8

4'-nonyloxyazoxybenzene, 4"-(pentyloxycarbonyl)phenyl 4'-octyloxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate, 2-methylbutyl 4'-(4"-octyloxybenzoyloxy)biphenyl-4-carboxylate, 2-methylbutyl 4"-octyloxybiphenyl-4-yl-carboxybenzoate or 2-methylbutyl 4-(4'-octoyloxybenzoyloxy)benzoate.

Claim 9

4'-nonyloxyazoxybenzene, 4"-(pentyloxycarbonyl)phenyl 4'-octyloxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate, 2-methylbutyl 4'-(4"-octyloxybenzoyloxy)biphenyl-4-carboxylate, 2-methylbutyl 4"-octyloxybiphenyl-4-yl-carboxybenzoate or 2-methylbutyl 4-(4'-octoyloxybenzoyloxy)benzoate.

Claim 10

The liquid-crystalline polymer composition as claimed in claim 3, wherein the low molecular weight liquid crystalline compound is 2-methylbutyl 4'-(4"-octyloxybenzoyloxy)biphenyl-4-carboxylate.