Elastic Coefficients and Twist Viscosity in Side-Chain Mesomorphic Polymers

The splay and bend elastic constants and the twist viscosity coefficient ${\gamma }_1$ have been measured for a series of side-chain nematic polymers. While the static properties are close to those of conventional liquid crystals, the hydrodynamic behavior resembles that of ordinary flexible polymers in the melt state. Furthermore, the results indicate an anisotropic conformation of the main chain as well as a coupling between the director rotation and the motion of the backbone.