Non-uniformities in polymer/liquid crystal mixtures I. Interfacial tension.
We theoretically study interfacial properties between two coexisting phases in mixtures of a flexible polymer and a low-molecular-weight liquid crystal. By numerically solving Euler equations for compositional and orientational order parameter fields, we calculate the order parameter profiles and interfacial tensions for nematic-isotropic and isotropic-isotropic phase equilibria. We find that the order parameter profiles are non-monotonic at some temperatures. The nematic-isotropic interfacial tension increases with decreasing temperature and is approximately proportional to (T - T(NI))(n) at temperatures below the nematic-isotropic transition temperature (T(NI)) of the pure nematogen. The value of the exponent n is strongly affected by the existence of a triple point.
Matsuyama
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Department of Chemistry for Materials, Faculty of Engineering, Mie University, Tsu Mie 514-8507, Japan. matuyama@chem.mie-u.ac.jp
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