Effect of polymer matrix density on molecular segregation and orientational ordering by a hybrid computer simulation

A hybrid computer simulation is used to study the effect of heterogeneous m atrix density (p(b)) on the segregation and orientation of short-chain mole cules, i.e., dimer, trimer, etc., a model for polymer dispersed liquid crys tal (PDLC) in an external field. Size of molecular aggregates is found to i ncrease with the matrix density, a polymerization-induced segregation consi stent with the recent experimental observation (Boots and coworkers, Macrom olecules 29 (1996) 7690; Liq. Cryst. 22 (1997) 145,255.). For low molecular weight liquid, the orientational ordering decreases monotonically with p(b ), while the orientation in a higher weight liquid depends nonmonotonically on P-b (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.