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Title: New theories for smectic and nematic liquid-crystal polymers: Backbone LCPs (liquid crystalline polymers) and their mixtures and side-chain LCPs

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6038629

A summary of predictions and explanations from statistical-physics theories for both backbone and side-chain liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) and for mixtures with backbone LCPs are presented. Trends in the thermodynamic and molecular ordering properties have been calculated as a function of pressure, density, temperature, and molecule chemical structures (including degree of polymerization and the following properties of the chemical structures of the repeat units: lengths and shapes, intra-chain rotation energies, dipole moments, site-site polarizabilities and Lennard-Jones potentials, etc.) in nematic and multiple smectic-A LC phases and in the isotropic liquid phase. The theoretical results are found to be in good agreement with existing experimental data. These theories can also be applied to combined LCPs. Since these theories have no ad hoc or arbitrarily adjustable parameters, these theories can be used to design new LCPs and new solvents as well as to predict and explain properties. 27 refs., 4 tabs.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI ID:
6038629
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-87-3117; CONF-8708171-1; ON: DE88000536
Resource Relation:
Conference: 6. international symposium on liquid crystals and ordered fluids, New Orleans, LA, USA, 30 Aug 1987
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English