Abstract
We describe the linear viscoelastic response of monodomains of unentangled nematic liquid crystalline polymers, using a generalized Rouse model. We calculate the dynamic relaxation functions analogous to the Leslie viscosities. As a consequence of the coupling of the macroscopic director orientation n to Rouse relaxation of the chain conformations, we predict: 1) a non-monotonic evolution of the director orientation after a step deformation and continuous tumbling in steady shear for extended chains (with no hairpins), and flow alignment of anisotropic Gaussian chains (with many hairpins), and 2) a phenomenon of "director recoil" in the response of n to a transient magnetic field.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 255-261 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Europhysics Letters |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 11 2000 |