0000000000280700
AUTHOR
Oomman P. Thomas
Electric Field Effects and Miscibility in Cybotactic Micellar Nematic and Ordinary Nematic Polyesters
Abstract Miscibility behavior and electro-optical instabilities are reported for two main chain thermotropic nematic polyesters formed by regularly alternating a disubstituted azoxy-benzene mesogen with a flexible spacer containing either 7 or 10 methylene units (HEPTA-9 and DDA-9, respectively). Polymer HEPTA-9 displays an ordinary nematic organization and polymer DDA-9 forms a cybotactic nematic phase. Both are totally miscible with each other, and with PAA, in the nematic phase. Williams domains and dynamic scattering modes are observed in both cases.
Electro-Hydrodynamic Instabilities in Main Chain Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Polyesters
Abstract We have investigated the response behavior of the thermotropic nematic polymer, DDA-9, in an electric field. DDA-9 is composed of regularly alternating moieties and flexible spacers. At a critical threshold voltage, dependent on molar mass, these polymers show the onset of instability. The appearance of a (non-fluctuating) striped pattern (Williams domains) is shown and the time of formation and relaxation of these patterns is investigated as a function of applied Voltage.