3 research outputs found
Orientational Ordering in Sequence-Disordered Liquid Crystalline Polymers
Phase separation of sequence-disordered liquid crystalline polymers, a
promising class of technological and biological relevance, is studied by field
theory, and thermodynamic mechanisms responsible for orientational ordering
observed in experiments, are discussed. The theory developed predicts that
chemical disorder marginally affects the nematic/isotropic biphasic coexistence
width, but strongly impacts ordering; above a critical chemical disorder
threshold orientational ordering is precluded.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Disordered Heteropolymers with Crosslinks - Phase Diagram and Conformational Transitions
We study the phase behavior of random heteropolymers (RHPs) with quenched
cross-links, a novel polymer class of technological and biological relevance,
and show the possible occurrence of freezing with few chain conformations
sampled. The sensitivity of the frozen phase microstructure to the disorder
components is elucidated at positive solubility parameter values; at low T's
segregated microphases form, while at a finite T, a first order conformational
transition occurs, and is attributed to statistical matching of large
microphases bounded by cross-links. The end of the symmetry broken regime
stabilization by cross-links occurs at a higher T by a second order
conformational transition. \\icrophases form, while at a finite T, a first
order conformational transition occurs, and is attributed to statistical
matching of large microphases bounded by cross-links. The end of the symmetry
broken regime stabilization by cross-links occurs at a higher T by a second
order conformational transition.Comment: 5 pages, 2 ps. figures. submitted to Chem. Phys. Let