A study on interfacial tension between flexible polymer and liquid crystal

The interfacial property in polymer–liquid crystal systems is quite different from flexible polymer–polymer mixtures due to the anisotropic properties of liquid crystals. The apparent interfacial tension between a liquid crystal and a flexible polymer was measured by deformed droplet retraction method. The deformation and recovery of a single liquid crystal droplet dispersed in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) matrix were realized by a transient shear flow and observed by polarized optical microscope. The apparent interfacial tension of polymer–liquid crystal system was found to be greatly dependent on the temperature, initial droplet deformation and liquid crystal droplet size.

The interfacial property in polymer–liquid crystal systems is quite different from flexible polymer–polymer mixtures due to the anisotropic properties of liquid crystals. The apparent interfacial tension between a liquid crystal and a flexible polymer was measured by deformed droplet retraction method. The deformation and recovery of a single liquid crystal droplet dispersed in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) matrix were realized by a transient shear flow and observed by polarized optical microscope. The apparent interfacial tension of polymer–liquid crystal system was found to be greatly dependent on the temperature, initial droplet deformation and liquid crystal droplet size.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide