Concentrated Solutions of Liquid-Crystalline Polymers

Abstract

This article reviews the following solution properties of liquid-crystalline stiff-chain polymers: (1) osmotic pressure and osmotic compressibility, (2) phase behavior involving liquid crystal phase(s), (3) orientational order parameter, (4) translational and rotational diffusion coefficients, (5) zero-shear viscosity, and (6) rheological behavior in the liquid crystal state. Among the related theories, the scaled particle theory is chosen to compare with experimental results for properties (1)-(3), the fuzzy cylinder model theory for properties (4) and (5), and Doi's theory for property (6). In most cases the agreement between experiment and theory is satisfactory, enabling one to predict solution properties from basic molecular parameters. Procedures for data analysis are described in detail.