Anisotropic cellulose‐derived matrix for dispersed liquid crystals

New cellulose‐derived dispersed liquid crystal free‐standing thin films were prepared by a shear‐casting technique from anisotropic and isotropic solutions of thermotropic (acetoxypropyl)cellulose in N,N‐dimethylacetamide with different amounts of the nematic E7. For films prepared from anisotropic solutions, dispersed nematic E7 droplets of micron and submicron size were found to coexist, with the band texture characteristic of polymer liquid crystals after shearing. Mechanical properties including Young's modulus and stress–strain curves were determined along and perpendicular to the shear direction, and revealed the anisotropic behaviour of films prepared from lyotropic solutions. The nematic E7 component appears to promote chain mobility and rearrangement of the polymer matrix and to modify the viscoelastic properties of the matrix.