Small-Angle Scattering of Polarised Light. V: Liquid Crystalline Droplets in an Isotropic Polymer

Abstract

The light scattering properties of spherical droplets of a nematic low molar mass liquid crystal dispersed either in a polymer matrix or in water have been investigated. The size of the droplets varied from 0.5μm to 100μm. Only a radial arrangement of the director in spherical droplets was considered. Up to ten orders HV scattering patterns were experimentally measured. Calculations have been conducted using the anomalous diffraction and Rayleigh-Gans-Debye theories. Particles larger then 2μm show an extremely good agreement with the anomalous diffraction theory. Particles smaller than 2μm show no agreement with either theory. This may be due to a more complex director arrangement than the radial distribution assumed here.