Dielectric studies of liquid crystals under high pressure III. Low frequency relaxation process in 4-(trans-4′-n-hexylcyclohexyl)isothiocyanato benzene

Abstract

Dielectric studies of 4-(trans-4′-n-hexylcyclohexyl) isothiocyanatobenzene (6CHBT) were performed in the pressure range 0·1–150 MPa, the frequency range 1 kHz–13 MHz and the temperature range 295–325 K. The temperature and pressure dependencies of the static permittivity ∊_0∥ and of the relaxation time τ_∥ are analysed and compared with the analogous data obtained recently for 4-n-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) (Parts I and II of this series). Marked differences in the dielectric properties of the nematic phases of the two substances are observed. They are interpreted as a result of varying degrees of molecular association in particular compounds. It is concluded that in the nematic phase of 6CHBT dipole–dipole correlations do not exist or are very weak, whereas for 5CB they are easily broken by a relatively low pressure.