Polarizing light microscopy liquid crystals studied using

Polarized light microscopy is the study of the microstructures of objects using their interactions with polarized light [1,2,23-27,31-33]. The method is widely applicable to polymers [34] and to liquid crystals [34-37]. The polarizing micro-... 

As briefly mentioned earlier, thermal studies have been used in conjunction with characterization by polarized light microscopy to determine the miscibility of polymeric and small molecule liquid crystals and low molecular weight mesogens, of the same or different types of liquid crystallinity, can also be used as plasticizers or diluents for polymers, as demonstrated in a study involving side chain liquid crystalline polymers... 

Thermal polarized light microscopy of liquid crystal systems still primarily involves the identification of phase types. Recently, however, a number of novel phases with complex structures have been discovered and detailed examinations of the configurations of their defects are required in order to provide a basis for future phase classification. Thermal microscopy is also used extensively in examination of the alignment processes of liquid crystals, and, in a related context, electric-field studies on meso-phases are carried out in aligned cells. Electric-field studies are now used as adjuncts to phase classification, e.g., antiferroelectric phases are sometimes identified in the microscope with the aid of electric-field studies. 

Methyl cellulose is a derivative of cellulose soluble in water and widely used as a binder or thickener in pharmaceutical products, food products, in the field of ceramics, etc. Formation of the liquid crystal phase is dependent on molecular weight, concentration and temperature, as evidenced in different experimental studies employing differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light microscopy, optical rotatory dispersion [121]. This cellulose derivative has two stages of thermoreversible gelation in aqueous solution, as temperature rises, if concentration exceeds a certain critical value [117, 122]. Several studies [123] have revealed a crystal liquid phase in dilute solutions as well. 

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