Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-wq484 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T07:10:52.225Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effect of Network Elasticity on Nematic Liquid Crystal/Cross-Linked Polymer Phase Diagram

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

D. Nwabunma ,
T. Kyu ,
R.T. Pogue  and
T.J. Bunning
D. Nwabunma
Affiliation:
Institute of Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, OH 44325-0301
T. Kyu
Affiliation:
Institute of Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, OH 44325-0301
R.T. Pogue
Affiliation:
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) Dayton, OH 45431
T.J. Bunning
Affiliation:
AFRL/MLPJ, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, WPAFB, OH 45433-6533
Get access

Abstract

The influence of elasticity on the phase behavior of a mixture of nematic liquid crystal (LC) and in-situ cross-linked polymer has been investigated. Unlike the phase diagram of the LC/pre-cured polymer, the experimental diagram of LC/cross-linked polymer phase supported by theoretical calculation showed no critical point. Instead, the binodal curve exhibits an upward asymptotic behavior as the LC volume fraction approaches unity due to domination arising from network elasticity, particularly at high LC volume fraction. An examination of the effect of cross-links segment length and network functionality on the phase diagram of LC/cross-linked polymer showed that the segment length between cross-links exerts a greater influence.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 559: Symposium D – Liquid Crystals Materials and Devices , 1999 , 117
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1 Doane, J. W., Liquid Crystal: Applications and Uses, edited by Bahadur, B. (World Scientific: Singapore, 1990) Chapter 14, pp. 361.Google Scholar
2 Nwabunma, D., Kim, K. J., Lin, Y., Chen, L. C., Kyu, T., Macromolecules 31, 6806 (1998).Google Scholar
3 Hirai, R., Niiyama, S., Kumai, H., Gunjima, T., Proc. SPIE-Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 1257,2 (1990); Rep. Res. Lab., Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. 40, 285 (1990).Google Scholar
4 Shen, C., Kyu, T., J. Chem. Phys. 102, 7471 (1995).Google Scholar
5 Nwabunma, D., Kyu, T., Macromolecules 32, 664 (1999).Google Scholar
6 Flory, P. J., J. Chem. Phys. 18, 108 (1950).Google Scholar
7 James, H., Guth, E. J., J Chem. Phys. 15, 669 (1947).Google Scholar
8 Flory, P. J., Macromolecules 25, 101 (1979).Google Scholar
9 Gennes, P.–G. de, in Polymer Liquid Crystals, edited by Ciferri, A., Krigbaum, W. R., Meyer, R. B. (Academic Press: New York, 1982).Google Scholar