Rheological Properties of Cholesteric Liquid Crystals

Abstract

Flow properties of some typical thermotropic cholesteric liquid crystals have been studied. Measurements on cholesteryl acetate, cholesteryl myristate, cholesteryl oleyl carbonate, and some melt-mixed samples of cholesteryl chloride and cholesteryl oleyl carbonate have been carried out by means of a cone-and-plate type rheometer at their cholesteric liquid crystal temperatures. Steady flow behavior of these cholesteric liquid crystals is well described in terms of Bingham type equations, except at very high rates of shear. The deviations from the Bingham flow at high rate of shear may be attributed to the occurrence of a fracture, which was clearly seen by the use of quartz cone-plate. © 1982, The Society of Rheology, Japan. All rights reserved.