Grafted carbon fibers and their physico-chemical properties. Part IV: Grafting of cyano-biphenyl containing liquid-crystalline monomers onto modified carbon fibers

Abstract

A simple, reproducible, already introduced grafting method of methacrylic monomers onto carbon fibers is applied to cyano-biphenyl containing liquid crystalline (lc) monomers. The development of lc phases is faster and more uniform in the presence of carbon fibers. Applying a voltage to the grafted carbon fibers, causes phase transitions of the liquid crystals. By varying spacer length of the grafted lc polymers the physico-chemical properties, e. g. wetting and electrokinetic behavior (zeta-potential) are significantly influenced.