Electric Field Effects and Miscibility in Cybotactic Micellar Nematic and Ordinary Nematic Polyesters

Abstract Miscibility behavior and electro-optical instabilities are reported for two main chain thermotropic nematic polyesters formed by regularly alternating a disubstituted azoxy-benzene mesogen with a flexible spacer containing either 7 or 10 methylene units (HEPTA-9 and DDA-9, respectively). Polymer HEPTA-9 displays an ordinary nematic organization and polymer DDA-9 forms a cybotactic nematic phase. Both are totally miscible with each other, and with PAA, in the nematic phase. Williams domains and dynamic scattering modes are observed in both cases.