Because of their high barrier prosperity that prevents the permeation of small molecular
liquid crystalline polymers have attracted considerable attention for its applications as barrier layers and separation membranes et al.This paper first introduces the structural characteristics and physical properties of liquid crystalline polymers
and then two pass models of small molecular permeation through liquid crystalline polymer membrane are described.It is now generally agreed that the liquid crystal as being impermeable like a 3-dimensional crystal.Small molecules can permeate only in defect regions in the polymer or the phase boundaries among liquid crystalline domains.The relationship between the mesogenic state of polymer liquid crystalline phase and the small molecular permeation properties is also summarized.Liquid crystalline phase content and free volume ratio of a polymer
the orientation and distribution of the mesogens phase
can affect the permeability of small molecules pass through the polymer membrane
which accords with the well known sorption-diffusion model for molecular transportation.New characterization method for measuring very low permeability of small molecular transportation in super barrier materials and the new applications of super barrier liquid crystalline polymer are reviewed.Problems of the application of liquid crystalline polymers as packaging materials and our perspectives of the future development of liquid crystalline polymers are also given at the end of the paper.