2H-NMR of the induced chiral phases of acrylate-methacrylate liquid crystalline copolymers

It is shown that the addn. of 2 to 6 wt.% of a chiral dopant (CD) to a series of nematic copolymers (Pn) induces blue and cholesteric mesophases. The mesomorphic behavior of various CD + Pn mixtures is investigated by polarized optical microscopy and the phase transition temperatures are determined by DSC measurements. Deuterium NMR spectra are recorded as a function of temperature within the mesophases and the spectral line shapes characteristic of different local orientational order parameters and orientational ordering processes of molecules in a magnetic field are observed depending on temperature, heating or cooling process, chiral dopant concentration, copolymer composition, and magnetic field strength.