Elasticity and Dynamic Properties of Ionic Micellar Nematics
Abstract
Micellar liquid crystals are formed in aqueous solutions of surfactants. Three ionic surfactant systems were used in this dissertation research: Potassium laurate system (KL/1-dec/D_2O), Sodium decyl sulfate system (SDS/1-dec/D_2O) and Cesium perfluorooctanoate system (CsPFO/H_2 O). The KL and SDS systems show three nematic phases: two uniaxial nematic and an intervening biaxial nematic phase. The nematic-nematic transitions are all second order. The aim of this research is to study the similarities and dissimilarities in physical properties of the different systems. In the CsPFO system, the birefringence and density were studied over the N-S transition which shows an unusual hysteresis. Rotational viscosities of micellar nematics were measured by monitoring the relaxation of the optical axes as a function of time in the presence of magnetic field. The KL and SDS systems show significant differences in viscosities and elastic constants. The elastic constants in KL and SDS systems were measured to be of the order of 10^{ -7}-10^{-8} dynes which is an order smaller than for thermotropic systems. The viscosity measured in the middle of N_{ rm C} phase is about 60 poise in SDS system while it is about 10 poise in the KL system. In the SDS system, a strong pretransitional effect is seen at the N_{rm BX} -N_{rm C} transition resulting in a decrease in viscosity. It is probably due to a change in short range interaction of the micelles. Birefringence measurements were taken for CsPFO system over the N-S transition to study the hysteresis at N-S transition. Density measurements were also done for the same purpose. Measurements taken at the different scan rate showed that there was still a small hysteresis even at rates as slow as 1mk/min. It is remarkable that in the SDS and CsPFO systems the density change at N-I transition is negative while the density change is positive at N-S transition. It indicates that there are different changes in the micellar structure. An extensive change of the structure is likely at N-S transition, e.g., from finite micelles to continuous layers. The change may be responsible for the observed hysteresis of very slow relaxation to thermal equilibrium. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.).
- Publication:
-
Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- January 1990
- Bibcode:
- 1990PhDT........72P
- Keywords:
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- NEMATICS;
- Physics: Condensed Matter