Measurement of the orientational elastic constants and the twist viscosity of nematic side chain polymers

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the three elastic constants k _ii (i = 1, 2, 3) and the twist viscosity γ₁ of two nematic side chain polyacrylates and one comparable low molecular weight compound have been measured by means of the Freedericksz effect. The change from the low to the high molecular liquid crystal causes a change of the ratio k ₃₃/k ₁₁ from greater to less than unity, but the order of magnitude of the elastic constants remains the same. In contrast, the twist viscosity of the polymeric liquid crystal is about 1000 times greater in magnitude than that of a comparable low molecular weight liquid crystal. The activation energy for the viscosity of the polymer differs by a factor 3–4 from that of the low molecular weight liquid crystal. The elastic constants as well as the twist viscosity show a quadratic dependence on the order parameter S over a wide temperature range.