Phases and Conformations Of Comb Polymer Liquid Crystals

Abstract

Polymer entropy is antagonistic to nematic order. Comb polymer architecture forces nematic and flexible elements together in one phase. The result of this is predicted to be several new nematic phases. We show how this underlying principle of competition gives a description of complex phase diagrams. Results include phases with apparently negative order parameters, reentrancy, changes in chain conformation away from spherical and molecular defects. Two components require two order parameters - the theory is similar to that of two, coupled Maier-Saupe systems.