Rigid-rod thermosets based on 1,3,5-triazine-linked aromatic ester segments

Liquid-crystalline (LC) thermosets were prepared by the thermal cyclotrimerization of dicyanate compounds of ring-substituted bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) terephthalates. The resulting triazine networks formed a mesophase as the curing reaction proceeded, thereby enabling alignment in applied fields. Alignment of the LC phase during the curing process under the influence of a magnetic field produced oriented triazine networks with a smecticlike molecular organization. Remarkably well-oriented triazinre networks were obtained with low values of the coefficient of thermal expansion observed in the direction of the electric field