Relationship of Polymer Molecular Weight and Cure Temperature in Photopolymerization-Induced Phase Separation of Liquid Crystal and Polymer Fiber Networks

We studied the dependence of polymer molecular weight on cure temperature in the photopolymerization-induced phase separation of liquid crystal and polymer fiber networks, using gel permeation chromatography. As the experimental result, it was found for the first time that the molecular weight of the polymer, which is segregated and aggregated in the solution of monomer and the liquid crystal, increases with decreasing the temperature. We considered that the spatial concentration of growing polymer density, which is induced by the phase separation with the temperature decrease, accelerates the chemical bonding of polymer molecules.