Spontaneous Ordering in Polymeric Nematic Liquids and Solids [and Discussion]

Polymers can spontaneously orientationally order when rod-like elements form the main chain or are pendant as side chains from the backbone. There exists strong coupling between chains and nematic order. Thus unlike simple rod liquids where the molecules remain undistorted on ordering, these molecul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences physical, and engineering sciences, 1994-07, Vol.348 (1686), p.59-72
Main Authors: Warner, Mark, Keller, A., Atkins, E. D. T., Thomas, E. L., Godovsky, Y. K., Windle, A. H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Crosslinking
Elastomers
Free energy
Liquid crystals
Liquids
Molecules
Polymers
Rubber
Solids
Transition temperature
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Summary:Polymers can spontaneously orientationally order when rod-like elements form the main chain or are pendant as side chains from the backbone. There exists strong coupling between chains and nematic order. Thus unlike simple rod liquids where the molecules remain undistorted on ordering, these molecules become elongated or flattened. Shape change is at the heart of polymer properties and new character enters the liquid crystal problem. Characteristic ordering of both main and side chain nematic melts, and the concomitant shape response will be discussed. Polymer networks (elastomers) exhibit rubber elasticity, that is resistance to macroscopic shape change reflecting the loss of freedom of chains distorted by applied stress. On the other hand spontaneous microscopic shape changes resulting from nematic ordering, bring with them the spontaneous macroscopic shape changes seen in experiments on nematic monodomain elastomers. The anisotropy of chain shape at chemical crosslinking is permanently recorded. Conversely there are stress-nematic effects unknown in simple nematics.
ISSN:1364-503X
0962-8428
1471-2962
2054-0299
DOI:10.1098/rsta.1994.0081