Landau-de Gennes free energy expansion for nematic polymers

V.V. Rusakov , M.I. Shliomis

The Landau-de Gennes free energy expansion coefficients for nematic polymers are evaluated on the basis of a molecular-statistical model. It is proved that the obtained expansion provides a reliable qualitative description of the phase transition to the nematic state for polymers with arbitrary molecular length and rigidity. It is demonstrated that this transition is always of the first-order type and the jump of the order parameter is weakly dependent on the molecular length and rigidity.

Mots clés: free energy; liquid crystal phase transformations; liquid crystal polymers; mechanical properties of liquids; nematic liquid crystals; shear modulus; first order phase transition; Landau de Gennes free energy expansion; nematic polymers; molecular statistical model; molecular length; rigidity

Domaines: Articles anciens

V.V. Rusakov, M.I. Shliomis. Landau-de Gennes free energy expansion for nematic polymers. Journal de Physique Lettres, 1985, 46 (19), pp.935-943. ⟨10.1051/jphyslet:019850046019093500⟩. ⟨jpa-00232921⟩