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Abstract
Nematic monodomains consisting of a side-chain liquid crystal polymer dissolved in a low-molar mass nematogen, pentylcyanobiphenyl, were prepared in planar and homeotropic alignment at polymer concentrations up to 15% w/w. The elastic and viscosity constants associated with the splay, bend and twist distortions of the nematic matrix were determined by analysis of the dynamic light scattering data on these monodomains over a wide range of scattering angles. The addition of the side-chain liquid crystal polymer results in a substantial decrease in the relaxation frequencies for dynamic light scattering. These changes are due to the combined contributions of a decrease in all three elastic constants and larger increases of the three viscosities. The effect is largest for the bend distortion.