EFFECT OF MOLECULAR-WEIGHT ON MISCIBILITY PHASE-DIAGRAMS IN MIXTURES OF POLYMER AND LIQUID-CRYSTALS

Phase diagrams in mixtures of side chain liquid crystalline polymers ( SCLCP) and liquid crystals (LC) have been computed by combining Flory- Huggins (FH) theory for isotropic mixing and Maier-Saupe (MS) theory f or nematic ordering. In the calculation, two orientational order param eters with two different clearing transitions are taken into considera tion for nematic mixtures. In the case of flexible homopolymer and liq uid crystal mixtures, only one orientational order parameter with one nematic-isotropic transition is necessary. he effects of molecular wei ght of matrix polymer on phase diagrams of polymer/liquid crystal mixt ures have been investigated using polymethyl methacrylate having varyi ng molecular weights as matrix resins.