Frank Elastic Constants and Leslie-Ericksen Viscosity Coefficients of Nematic Solutions of a Rodlike Polymer

Abstract

The formation of a monodoraain nematic liquid crystal with a solution of the rodlike poly[1,4-phenylene-2,6-benzobisthiazole] will be described, along with the results of elastic and quasi-elastic light scattering on the oriented solution. The latter are analyzed to give the ratios K_S/K_T = 15.8 and K_S/K_T = 7.3 for the Prank elastic constants and ν_S/ν_T = 0.86 and ν_S/ν_T = 0.14 for the Leslie-Ericksen viscosities. These are compared with theoretical models and with results observed for the shear stress and the flow birefringence in steady flow.