Phase diagrams, phase separation mechanisms and morphologyin liquid crystalline materials: Principles and theoretical foundations

Abstract

Polymer-Liquid crystal composites are heterogeneous materials that display a rich phase behavoiur and a variety of morphologies, and are typically used in electro-optical technological applications. This chapter presents general introduction to phase behaviour and morphologies of these materials. The fundamental physics underlying the formation of different morphologies is described, with a strong emphasis in how the trajectory in the phase diagram determines phase separation mechanism and the morphology. The effect of processing variables, chemical reaction and molecular structures on phase diagrams is rationalized through its effect on phase diagrams and diffusion.