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Abstract
The birefringence of a homologous series of nematogenic trans-4-ethoxy-4′-n-alkanoyloxyazobenzenes has been measured and observed trends correlated with the change in molecular structure represented by the increasing length of the terminal alkane chain. Order parameters calculated from the birefringence and density data on the basis of the isotropic and anisotropic internal field models are compared and discussed. Also the theory fitting the birefringence data to a power series in temperature is discussed. Fractional volume changes calculated for the nematic-isotropic transition using refractive index data are compared to experimentally observed values.