Abstract
WE present here evidence for a planar layered structure in solid films of poly-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate (PEG) made by casting from solution. The (idealized) structure is composed of successive layers of planes parallel to the film surface. The planes themselves consist of “domain” regions of parallel helical molecules. In a given domain the molecules in adjacent planes show a slight angle of twist relative to one another, characteristic of cholesteric liquid crystal structures. An interesting manifestation of this suggested structure is the unusually anisotropic swelling of these films. Films plasticized with a nonvolatile solvent also maintain this layered cholesteric structure with a uniform separation of the PEG planes as shown by birefringence studies.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Elliott, A., and Ambrose, E. J., Disc. Faraday Soc., 9, 246 (1950).
Robinson, C., Trans. Faraday Soc., 52, 571 (1956).
Robinson, C., and Ward, J. C., Nature, 180, 1183 (1957).
Robinson, C., Ward, J. C., and Beevers, R. B., Disc. Faraday Soc., 25, 29 (1958).
Robinson, C., Tetrahedron, 13, 219 (1961).
McKinnon, A. J., and Tobolsky, A. V., J. Phys. Chem., 70, 1453 (1966).
Ambrose, E. J., and Elliott, A., Proc. Roy. Soc., A, 205, 47 (1951).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
SAMULSKI, E., TOBOLSKY, A. Solid “Liquid Crystal” Films of Poly-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate. Nature 216, 997 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/216997a0
Received:
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/216997a0
