Temperature-induced chiral nematic phase changes of suspensions of poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-grafted cellulose nanocrystals

Temperature-induced copolymers of poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-grafted cellulose nanocrystals (PDMAEMA-grafted CNC) were synthesized by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The graft copolymers were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The size of the original CNC was 10–40 nm in width and 100–400 nm in length, as characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The liquid-crystalline properties of the graft copolymers were investigated by using polarizing optical microscopy (POM). The graft copolymers exhibited fingerprint texture in lyotropic state. The temperature-induced fingerprint texture changes of PDMAEMA-grafted CNC aqueous suspensions were investigated at various temperatures. With increasing temperature, the spacing of the fingerprint lines decreases. Temperature-induced changes of PDMAEMA polymer chains result in changes of fingerprint texture.