OBSERVATIONS OF THE BREAK-UP OF LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYMER THREADS IMBEDDED IN AN ISOTROPIC FLUID

A droplet, a few hundreds of microns, of liquid crystalline hydroxypro pylcellulose (HPC) in water is imbedded into a polydimethylsiloxane (P DMS) matrix and subjected to a shear flow. The droplet is deformed int o a thread of high aspect ratio. The textures associated with the brea k-up of the thread once the flow is stopped are observed by optical mi croscopy. After stopping the flow a banded texture appears. The drople ts resulting from the break-up have a bipolar texture with the two opp osite poles being along the former thread direction.