PHASE-EQUILIBRIA IN SOLUTIONS OF DISK-LIKE PARTICLES

The Flory lattice method has been utilized to study phase equilibria i n solutions of disklike molecules. It is found that the critical disk diameter-to-width ratio x for the formation of the stable nematic phas e is about 3.015. Temperature-concentration phase diagrams are studied for several values of x. For x < 8.6 the isotropic and nematic phases are separated by a biphasic range of concentrations. Above x approxim ate to 8.6 a reentrant nematic feature appears, i.e., at a given tempe rature either of two pairs of phases, isotropic-nematic or nematic-nem atic, occurred. The locations of tile corresponding critical and tripl e points are computed.