Molecular systems modulus-phase relations

Binary mixtures of a flexible polymer and a low molecular weight liquid crystalline molecule, or a rigid rod-like molecule, are of interest because of their important technological applications in high modulus fibers, nonlinear optics, and electro-optical devices. These blends are basic materials for recent new technologies of liquid crystal displays [1,2], The performances of these systems are closely related to phase separations and conformations of polymer chains dissolved in a liquid crystalline phase. One of the main problems is to examine the location of various phases such as isotropic, nematic, and smectic phases, depending on temperature and concentration. To understand the thermodynamics and thermal instability of these blends, it is important to consider the co-occurrences between liquid crystalline ordering and phase separations. 

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