Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators
Published on: May 20, 2018
Landau-de Gennes model for nonuniform configurations in nematic liquid crystalline elastomers
1Departamento de Física, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Campus Universitário, 86051-990 - Londrina (PR), Brazil. simoes@uel.br
Abstract:
Through a mean field theory, an elastic free energy describing the nonuniform elastic textures observed in nematic elastomers, is proposed. To construct it, an order parameter that describes the nematic-isotropic phase transition through the change of the elastic properties of the strain tensor at the transition point is introduced. The resulting elastic free energy can be written in a form that resembles the Frank free energy of the usual nematic liquid crystals, becoming equivalent to it when the size of the elastic nematic domains is a fixed constant along the whole sample. Using this approach, a model for nonhomogeneous deformations found by Macromolecules 33, 7675 (2000)] in elastomeric thin films of urethane/urea is proposed.
Related Concept Videos
Fluid Mosaic Model
Fluid Mosaic Model
Newman Projections
The organic molecules rotate across the single bonds leading to numerous temporary three-dimensional structures of varying energy known as conformers.
Polymer Classification: Crystallinity
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
Nonideal Two-Component Liquid Solutions
Conformations of Cyclohexane
The chair form is the most stable and derives its name from its resemblance to the “easy chair.” In the chair conformation, two carbon atoms are arranged out-of-plane — one above and one below, minimizing the torsional strain. In the chair form, the bond angle is very close to the ideal tetrahedral value,...

