Volume 200, Issue 9 pp. 2080-2087
Research Article

Synthesis and properties of liquid crystalline aromatic copolyesters with lactide moieties

G. Haderlein

G. Haderlein

Philipps-Universität Marburg, Fb Chemie, Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Kernchemie und Makromolekulare Chemie, Hans-Meerwein-Str., D-35032 Marburg, Germany

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H. Petersen

H. Petersen

Philipps-Universität Marburg, Fb Chemie, Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Kernchemie und Makromolekulare Chemie, Hans-Meerwein-Str., D-35032 Marburg, Germany

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C. Schmidt

C. Schmidt

Philipps-Universität Marburg, Fb Chemie, Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Kernchemie und Makromolekulare Chemie, Hans-Meerwein-Str., D-35032 Marburg, Germany

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J. H. Wendorff

J. H. Wendorff

Philipps-Universität Marburg, Fb Chemie, Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Kernchemie und Makromolekulare Chemie, Hans-Meerwein-Str., D-35032 Marburg, Germany

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A. Schaper

A. Schaper

Fb Mineralogie und Wissenschaftliches Zentrum für Materialwissenschaften, Hans-Meerwein-Str., D-35032 Marburg, Germany

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D. B. Jones

D. B. Jones

Experimentelle Orthopädie und Biomechanik des Klinikums, Hans-Meerwein-Str., D-35032 Marburg, Germany

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J. Visjager

J. Visjager

ETH Zürich, Department of Materials, UNO C14, Universitätsstr. 41, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland

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P. Smith

P. Smith

ETH Zürich, Department of Materials, UNO C14, Universitätsstr. 41, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland

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A. Greiner

Abstract

High molecular weight liquid crystalline copolyesters were obtained by copolycondensation of aromatic diols and diacyl chlorides with oligolactides. The molecular structure of these copolyesters was verified by NMR studies. The copolyesters form nematic melts, which can be frozen in into a nematic glass. Unexpectedly, a fibrillar structure was observed exclusively on the surface of solution cast films. In spite of a significant content of lactide moieties of the copolyesters their films and fibers are characterized by exceptional mechanical properties. Initial experiments indicated excellent biocompatibility based on cell seeding experiments and microscopic evidence.

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