Molecular model for nematic polymers in liquid crystal solvents

Abstract

A theory for the nematic‐isotropic phase transition in semirigid polymer/liquid crystal solutions is proposed. The polymer is described by an elastic chain and van der Waals and steric intermolecular interactions are included in a mean field approximation. It is shown that these interactions orient the liquid crystal molecules and the polymer chains in the solution. The order parameter of the liquid crystal molecules and of the polymer are calculated as a function of temperature and concentration and the phase diagram for the first order phase transition is given. The effects of chain length and chain flexibility are discussed.