Orientational Order of Liquid Crystalline Molecules at (Polyfumarate with Various Side Chain Structure/Liquid Crystal) Interface

Abstract

An orientational order of nematic liquid crystal(NLC) molecules at the interface between polyfumarates and NLC was evaluated by measurering a change of the nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature, T_<NI> in the polyfumarate-coated convex-flat substrate sandwich cell. T_<NI> at the convex-flat substrate interface became lower with an increase of side chain mobility of polyfumarate contacting with NLC. It was concluded that thermal molecular motion associated with the side chain part has a great influence on NLC surface orientational order.