Phase state and photooptical behavior of photochromic ion-containing blends of poly(acrylic acid) and 4-(10-diethylaminodecyloxy)azobenzene

New photochromic amorphous and ion-containing comb-shaped LC polymers were prepared by the protonation of amino groups of tertiary amine, 4-(10-diethylaminodecyloxy)azobenzene using the carboxylic groups of poly(acrylic acid). When the concentration of a photochromic additive in the blend is equal to ∼29 mol %, the smectic phase is formed. For amorphized blends, the development of birefringence induced by laser irradiation was studied. As compared with the classical nematic comb-shaped LC polymers containing azobenzene groups, the corresponding kinetic curve describing an increase in the phase shift is characterized by an additional slow component. The above photooptical behavior may be conceivably related to the development of an LC phase as induced by laser irradiation of amorphized films of photochromic blends.