Linear viscoelasticity and director dynamics of nematic liquid crystalline polymer melts

D. Long, D. C. Morse

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

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 languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)255-261
Number of pages7
JournalEurophysics Letters
Volume49
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 11 2000

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