Topological Polymer Networks Retaining Cholesteric Liquid Crystalline Order Without Mesogen

Abstract Crosslinked poly (butyl acrylate) which possesses cholesteric liquid crystalline order has been prepared. First, butyl acrylate was caused to polymerize in a poly(γ-butyl L-glutamate)—butyl acrylate liquid crystalline state. Then, the poly(γ-butyl L-glutamate) component was eliminated from the system by hydrolytic extraction. The network polymer thus obtained exhibited cholesteric liquid crystalline organization when it was swollen in solvents.