SILICA PARTICLE AGGREGATES IN LC-MATRIX

We have performed SANS studies on a liquid crystal (LC) composite syst em where 0.5-3% of hydrophobic SiO2 particles were dispersed. The Brag g reflections from the smectic structure show that the layer alignment is perfect after cooling the system in a field of H = 1.2 T. This ali gnment is memorised (after heating-cooling at H = 0) proving the align ing ability of the dispersed particles on the LC layers. We assume tha t the silica particles form loosely connected porous aggregates.