Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 24, 2026

Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets
Published on: May 15, 2017
Mechanics of soft-solid-liquid-crystal interfaces
1Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Abstract:
The interfacial mechanics of soft elastic solids and nematic liquid crystals is presented. The theory can be applied to interfaces involving gels, elastomers, biomaterials, and thermotropic nematic liquid crystals. A model of anisotropic elastic interfaces is formulated and used to derive two fundamental capillary quantities: (i) interfacial torques on the nematic orientation, and (ii) capillary pressure. The couplings between soft-solid deformation and liquid-crystal anisotropic interfacial tension is shown to lead to strain-induced anchoring transitions, and strain-induced morphological instabilities.
Related Concept Videos
Fluid Mosaic Model
Molecular and Ionic Solids
Molecular Solids
Molecular crystalline solids, such as ice, sucrose (table sugar), and iodine, are solids that are composed of neutral molecules as their constituent units. These molecules are held together by weak intermolecular forces such as London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, or hydrogen bonds, which...
Contact Angle
The adhesive force is the molecular force between molecules of different materials, that is, between the molecules of the solid and the liquid. The cohesive force...
Two Components: Liquid–Liquid Systems
Liquid–Solid Solutions
Theories of Dissolution: The Danckwerts' Model and Interfacial Barrier Model

