Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, Vol.38, No.3, 478-485, 2000
On the phase equilibria of nematic mixtures
The theory of Brochard et al. for mixtures of nematogens is applied to the case of crosslinked polymers with side chain liquid crystals and low- molecular-weight liquid crystals. Phase equilibria of those mixtures are analyzed by allowing the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter for isotropic mixture and the rubber elasticity parameters of the elastic network, to be functions of the polymer volume fraction. A wide range of crosslinking density is covered showing a strong influence on the phase behavior of such compounds. The clearing temperature of nematic-isotropic transition of each nematogen is different and the cross-nematic interaction parameter is a geometric average of the parameters for pure nematogens.