Non-isothermal model for nematic spherulite growth

Abstract

A computational study of the growth of two-dimensional nematic spherulites in an isotropic phase was performed using a Landau-de Gennes-type quadrupolar tensor order parameter model for the first-order isotropic/nematic transition of 5CB (pentylcyanobiphenyl). An energy balance, taking anisotropy into account, was derived and incorporated into the time-dependent model. Growth laws were determined for two different spherulite morphologies of the form t n, with and without the inclusion of thermal effects. Results show that incorporation of the thermal energy balance correctly predicts the transition of the growth law exponent from the volume driven regime (n ) 1) to the thermally limited regime (approaching n ) 1/2), agreeing well with experimental observations. An interfacial nematodynamic model is used to gain insight into the interactions that result in the progression of different spherulite growth regimes.