Part One of this thesis covers the synthesis and characterisation of new thermotropic mainchain liquid crystalline polymers containing cyclooctyl units and aza-18-crown-ether units. The effects upon the structure-property relationships of these polymers in terms of the following parameters were studied, and the results are reported here: spacer length, different substituents, copolymerisation, mesogenic group length, different mesogens and variable ring size. The liquid crystalline transitions and textures of these polymers are identified by using optical polarising microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Part Two includes study of the mechanical properties of polymers containing cycloalkyl units and aza-Crown-ethers. The effect of catalysts and solvents in polyurethane preparation has also been looked at. Secondary relaxations (T