Structure and thermodynamics of anisotropic polymer fluids

Journal Article · Wed Mar 08 04:00:00 EST 2000 · Journal of Chemical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.481088· OSTI ID:20215600

Pickett, Galen T ^[1]; Schweizer, Kenneth S ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, California 90840 (United States)
2. Departments of Materials Science and Engineering and Chemistry, and Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, 1304 W. Green St., Urbana, Illinois 61801 (United States)

We investigate the structure and thermodynamics of anisotropic polymer fluids, focusing on the nematic phases of flexible polymers. The chains interact only through monomer-monomer excluded-volume interactions. As a function of an externally provided alignment along a fixed nematic director, we calculate the anisotropic pair correlation function, and demonstrate the existence of two density correlation lengths, {xi}{sub (perpendicular} {sub sign)} and {xi}{sub z}, controlling transverse and longitudinal density fluctuations, respectively. We allow the possibility that the chains align either along the director (nematic conformations), or are anti-aligned in a ''discotic-like'' configuration. The cohesive contribution to the free energy is established in a high-temperature approximation, and its sensitivity to the orientation of the chains is probed. Our approach is not limited to homogeneous liquid crystalline phases, but applies in any circumstance when the orientation of otherwise disordered polymers is the physically controlling effect, e.g., confinement in thin films or pores, shear-alignment of flexible polymers, or straining a cross-linked rubber network. (c) 2000 American Institute of Physics.

• OSTI ID: 20215600
• Journal Information: Journal of Chemical Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Chemical Physics Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 112; ISSN JCPSA6; ISSN 0021-9606
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
CORRELATION FUNCTIONS
LIQUID CRYSTALS
POLYMERS
STRUCTURE FACTORS
THEORETICAL DATA
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES