Phase diagrams of binary mixtures of liquid crystals and rodlike polymers in the presence of an external field.
We theoretically study phase separations in mixtures of a low molecular-weight-liquid crystalline molecule (LC) and a rigid-rodlike polymer (rod) under an external field, such as magnetic or electric fields. By taking into account two orientational order parameters of the rod and the LC, we define four nematic phases (N(0), N(1), N(2), N(3)) on the temperature-concentration plane. Depending on the sign of the dielectric anisotropy Δε(i) of the rod (i = 1) and LC(i = 2), we examine the phase behavior of rod/LC mixtures in the case of Δε(1) > 0, Δε(2) > 0 (a), Δε(1) < 0, Δε(2) > 0 (b), Δε(1) > 0, Δε(2) < 0 (c), and Δε(1) < 0, Δε(2) < 0 (d). We predict a variety of phase separations induced by an external field.
Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Kawazu 680-4, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan.
Akihiko
A
Matsuyama
Tomomi
T
Ueda
D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D044367:Phase Transition; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013816:Thermodynamics
D011108:Polymers