title: Isotropic-nematic transition in liquid-crystalline elastomers: lattice model with quenched disorder.
abstract: When liquid-crystalline elastomers pass through the isotropic-nematic transition, the orientational order parameter and the elastic strain vary rapidly but smoothly, without the expected first-order discontinuity. This broadening of the phase transition is an important issue for applications of liquid-crystalline elastomers as actuators or artificial muscles. To understand this behavior, we develop a lattice model of liquid-crystalline elastomers, with local directors coupled to a global strain variable. In this model, we can consider either random-bond disorder (representing chemical heterogeneity) or random-field disorder (representing heterogeneous local stresses). Monte Carlo simulations show that both types of disorder cause the first-order isotropic-nematic transition to broaden into a smooth crossover, consistent with the experiments. For random-field disorder, the smooth crossover into an ordered state can be attributed to the long-range elastic interaction.
authors.affiliation: Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Code 6900, 4555 Overlook Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20375, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Selinger
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Ratna