Bend and splay elastic constants of a discotic nematic

Abstract

We report the dielectric constants and the splay and bend elastic constants of hexan-dodecanoyloxy truxene in the nematic phase, which occurs between two columnar phases. The dielectric anisotropy is positive. The elastic constants are sim10-7 dyne, which is of the same order as for nematics of rod-like molecules. Further, k33 > k11, probably as a consequence of the columnar short range order in the medium.