Influence of molecular ordering on the pressure behaviour of the nematic-isotropic transition

Abstract

The effect of pressure on the nematic-isotropic transition in mixtures of 60CB and 80CB has been studied by DTA. The plot of dT/dp at 1 bar versus molefraction (x) of 60CB shows an anomalous decrease in the range 0.1 < × < 0.28. Experiments conducted under different thermal conditions of the sample seem to indicate that this anomalous behaviour is essentially due to the influence of molecular ordering which develops continuously and not due to any kinetic effects.