Effect of magnetic fields on out-of-plane orientations of nematic liquid crystalline polymers under simple shear flow

Abstract

The effect of magnetic fields on out-of-plane orientations of liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) under simple shear flows is numerically analyzed using the Doi–Hess equation. The evolution equation for the probability distribution function of the LCP molecules is directly solved without any approximation closure. The initial director is parallel to the vorticity direction. Two cases of the magnetic fields are considered (1) the magnetic field parallel to the flow direction, and (2) the magnetic field parallel to the velocity gradient direction. For both cases a log-rolling orientation state is detected at low shear rates. However, the director is quickly aligned along the direction of magnetic fields because of the deformation of molecules. The field affects on the scalar order parameter rather than the major orientation direction for the magnetic field parallel to the flow direction. On the other hand regarding the magnetic field along the vorticity gradient direction, the effect of the magnetic field is more remarkable on the major orientation in comparison with the effect on the scalar order parameter. Also it is be found that the order parameter is increased obviously with increasing the magnetic fields. It is an efficient way to improve the performance of LCP materials.

Keywords:

• out-of-plane orientations
• magnetic field
• nematic LCPs
• order parameter

Acknowledgements

This research has been supported by Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province, China, through Grant No. LC08C14, and the Education Foundation of Heilongjiang Province, China, through Grant No. 1152hq013.