CONCEPTS IN RHEOLOGICAL STUDIES OF POLYMERIC LIQUID CRYSTALS.

Abstract

This paper compares the behavior of liquid crystalline polymers (LCP) with flexible chain polymer systems and describes various rheological tests which can be used to characterize LCP. Some of what has been reported on the rheology of liquid crystalline fluids is reviewed in an effort to identify any behavior which indicates that these fluids become oriented during flow and do not lose this orientation in the time scale of flexible chain polymers. Several transient shear flow experiments which may help to identify the orientation during flow and the lack of significant loss of this orientation on cessation of flow.