화학공학소재연구정보센터
Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol.100, No.2, 1708-1715, 1994
Conformational Properties for Linear Nematic and Cholesteric Polymers in the Bend Elastic Chain Model
The chain conformation of a liquid crystal polymer will be modified at the isotropic-anisotropic phase transition. Numerical results for the end-to-end distance [R(2)], and the radius of gyration [S-2] of the polymer are presented using the bend elastic chain to model the polymer and including anisotropic mean field interactions. Anisotropy of conformation is calculated in nematics in the direction of preferred orientation as given by the component [R(z)(2)]. In cholesterics, anisotropy occurs perpendicular to the director as well and [R(x)(2)]not equal[R(y)(2)]. The conformation is studied as a function of temperature, degree of polymerization, and persistence length. In cholesterics, a modification of the conformation is also found at those values of parameters (temperature, molecular weight) for which the pitch diverges and changes sign.