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Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets
Published on: May 15, 2017
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Phase behavior near and beyond the thermodynamic stability threshold.
Gianpietro Malescio1, Santi Prestipino1,2
1Università degli Studi di Messina, Dipartimento di Fisica e di Scienze della Terra, Contrada Papardo, I-98166 Messina, Italy.
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|December 15, 2015
Summary
This study reveals that increasing attraction strength in macromolecule dispersions can cause collapse. Adding a hard core restores stability, analogous to colloidal dispersion destabilization.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Soft Matter Physics
- Thermodynamics
Background:
- Macromolecule dispersion behavior is understood via effective particle interactions.
- Interpenetrating particles, like polymers, have potentials finite at the origin.
- Understanding phase transitions in such systems is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phase behavior of stabilized macromolecule dispersions.
- To analyze the effect of varying attraction strength on system stability.
- To explore the analogy between theoretical models and colloidal destabilization.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a double-Gaussian model (DGM) to simulate particle interactions.
- Studied system behavior as a function of attraction strength (η).
- Introduced a hard core to the DGM potential to assess stability recovery.
Main Results:
- Above a critical attraction strength (ηc), the system becomes Ruelle unstable and collapses.
- Anomalous widening of the liquid-vapor region and diverging liquid density observed near ηc.
- The thermodynamic plane splits into regions with different collapse waiting times above ηc.
Conclusions:
- Strengthening attraction in DGM systems leads to collapse, mirroring colloidal destabilization.
- Adding a hard core stabilizes the system, converting the instability line to a spinodal line.
- The DGM provides a valuable model for understanding phase transitions in soft matter systems.
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