Nematogetic network swollen by nematic solvent

The addition of a nematic solvent yields more complex possibilities, dependent on the relationship between of the solvent and Tof the network. Because the solvent can also order, at temperature in the neat state, the nematic tendencies of the solvent prevent it from acting directly to destroy the nematic state of the network it is swelling. 

It is possible to envisage three regimes of relative nematicity for the network and solvent (a) T (b) (with various delicate cases we treat below) and (c). Additionally, the magnitude 

An extreme case of (c) where = 0 has been treated by Ballauff (1992). As T is lowered below, the network rapidly de-swells as isotropic chains are highly incompatible with a nematic solvent. By giving the chains some (variable) degree of nematicity, we allow for the possibility that they can order in response rather than de-mix. 

The precise structure of the phase diagram depends on the relative strengths of the couplings, more precisely on the coupling matrix 

First of all, we will treat the simple case where det(v) = 0, i.e., vc is the geometrical mean of the self couplings and, except for unusual molecules, it approximates the order of that expected for a van der Waals mediated nematic interactions. Next, we will deal with more unusual behavior where det(v) 0 and det(v) 0, respectively. 

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