Small angle X-ray scattering and quasi-elastic light scattering studies of polymer liquid crystals

Thesis/Dissertation · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:7236300

Ao, Xiaolei

In order to understand the structural properties of semiflexible polymer liquid crystals, small angle X-ray scattering data from the synthetic polypeptide poly-[gamma]-benzyl glutamate (PBG) in the nematic phase are presented. The important features of the data are discussed in terms of the current understanding of the nature of nematic ordering in main chain polymer systems. This includes analysis of the angular distribution function for the polymer segments, long wavelength fluctuations dictated by elastic phenomena, the effects of finite chain lengths, and the effects due to the short range interactions and packing of the chains. The rigid rod-like biological macromolecule, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), in the nematic and the smectic A phases is studied by quasi-elastic light scattering in order to understand the hydrodynamic properties of rigid rod-like lyotropic liquid crystals. A nonlocal behavior of the elasticity in the nematic phase is observed and discussed in terms of a recent developed nonlocal theory. The relative diffusion and undulation modes in the smectic A phase are observed. The results are compared with theory.

• Research Organization: Brandeis Univ., Waltham, MA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7236300
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360602* -- Other Materials-- Structure & Phase Studies
AMINO ACIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
COHERENT SCATTERING
CRYSTAL-PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
CRYSTALS
DIFFRACTION
DIRECT REACTIONS
FLUIDS
GLUTAMIC ACID
LIQUID CRYSTALS
LIQUIDS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHASE STUDIES
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POLYMERS
QUASI-ELASTIC SCATTERING
QUASI-FREE REACTIONS
SCATTERING
SMALL ANGLE SCATTERING
X-RAY DIFFRACTION