Liquid crystal/glass interface effects on the orientation of lyotropic liquid crystals in magnetic fields

Abstract

Lyotropic mesophases of both positive (type I) and negative (type II) diamagnetic anisotropy have been prepared. The deuterium magnetic resonance signal from D2O in the sample bas been studied during the process of orientation in a magnetic field. A type II mesophase oriented by a magnetic field in a cylindrical tube perpendicular to the lines of force does not achieve a uniform distribution of directors in a plane perpendicular to the field. The re orientation of a type I mesophase after an initial displacement of the director at an angle to the field has been studied. Previous equations derived for thermotropic liquid crystals are applicable but the velocity of re-orientation was found to be an inverse function of the radius, for nmr tubes of less than 4 mm in diameter, indicating that liquid crystal/glass interface effects are important.