Mesomorphic Materials

Teaching Methods

Two types of lessons will be considered: Lectures (theory/practice) and laboratory. The theory/practice lectures will be complemented by the resolution of problems as well as with the analyses of different case studies based on scientific articles. The laboratory work will be performed by the students under the guidance of the teacher and focus on the different aspects of liquid crystals.
Frequency in the curricular unit will be achieved by evaluation of the work performed in the laboratory and reports discussion.

Learning Outcomes

In the formative aspect this curricular unit (CU) aims to provide the students with scientific and technological knowledge on new liquid crystalline materials. The students will also be acquainted with new concepts in various branches of knowledge (elasticity, fluids rheology, crystal defects, phase transitions) and will develop their reasoning ability on an interdisciplinary basis and their skills to create scientific and technological innovation. In the informational aspect the CU aims to acquaint the students with the different applications of liquid crystals and the latest technological developments, and future prospects in this field of materials science.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Introduction. Technological and biological importance of liquid crystals and liquid crystalline polymers.

Classification, molecular organization and optical properties. Degree of order. Textures and defects of orientation (disclinations).

Elasticity of curvature. Free energy of deformation. Equilibrium equations.

Molecular orientation in solid-nematic interface. Effects of surface roughness.

Introduction to nematodynamics. Director’s response to applied fields.

Electro-optical effects in nematics. Alphanumeric displays and liquid crystal displays (LCDs). Flexible displays.

Digital paper.

Composites of polymers and liquid crystals (PDLCs). Adjustable transparency windows.

Rheological properties of mesomorphic materials.

Applications of liquid-crystalline polymers in structural materials. Other technological applications of liquid crystals and liquid-crystalline polymers.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Assessment: completion of 2 tests or a final exam. The final grade obtained is 30% of theoretical part (tests average or final exam classification) and 70% of the laboratory grade (frequency).: 100.0%

Bibliography

[1] P.G. de Gennes and J. Prost, The Physics of Liquid Crystals, Oxford University Press (U.K.), 2nd, 1993.

[2] S. Chandrasekhar, Liquid Crystals, Cambridge University Press (u.K.), 2nd, 1992.

[3] P.J. Collings, M. Hird, Introduction to Liquid Crystals, Taylor & Francis, 1987.

[4] D. Demus, L. Richter, Textures of Liquid Crystals, VEB Deutcher Verlag fur Grundstoffindustrie, Leipzig, 1978.

[5] I.W. Stewart, The Static and Dynamic Continuum Theory of Liquid Crystals, Taylor & Francis, 2004. H.A.

Babnmbvmrnes, J.F. Hutton and K. Walters, “An Introduction to Rheology”, Elsevier Publishers, 1989.

[6] R.B. Bird, R.C. Armstrong and O. Hassager, “Dynamics of Polymeric Liquids: Volume II, Fluid Mechanics”, John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1977.

[7] R.G. Larson, “The Structure and Rheology of Complex Fluids”, Oxford UniversityPress, 1999.