Influence of the Molecular Weight of a Polymer on the Gliding of Nematic Liquid Crystals

Abstract

Gliding of the nematic liquid crystal director on polymethyl-methacrilate layers in a magnetic field is observed. It is found that the kinetics of the gliding process are strongly influenced by the molecular weight of the polymer chains. This fact supports the model of gliding based on the mutual orienting effect of the liquid crystal and polymer network.

Keywords:

• director gliding
• polymer-liquid crystal interface
• polymer molecular weight

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This work was supported by the Hungarian Research Grant No. OTKA T-037275. D. Statman acknowledges partial support from ACS-PRF.