6533b853fe1ef96bd12ace0e
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Nematic elastomers: From a microscopic model to macroscopic elasticity theory
Swagatam MukhopadhyayAnnette ZippeliusAnnette ZippeliusStephan PfahlPaul M. GoldbartXiangjun Xingsubject
chemistry.chemical_classificationMaterials scienceCondensed matter physicsIsotropyPolymerElasticity (physics)Elastomer01 natural sciencesLandau theory010305 fluids & plasmasAmorphous solidCondensed Matter::Soft Condensed MatterchemistryLiquid crystal0103 physical sciences010306 general physicsElastic modulusdescription
A Landau theory is constructed for the gelation transition in cross-linked polymer systems possessing spontaneous nematic ordering, based on symmetry principles and the concept of an order parameter for the amorphous solid state. This theory is substantiated with help of a simple microscopic model of cross-linked dimers. Minimization of the Landau free energy in the presence of nematic order yields the neoclassical theory of the elasticity of nematic elastomers and, in the isotropic limit, the classical theory of isotropic elasticity. These phenomenological theories of elasticity are thereby derived from a microscopic model, and it is furthermore demonstrated that they are universal mean-field descriptions of the elasticity for all chemical gels and vulcanized media.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-05-08 | Physical Review E |