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Project

Dynamics and phase behaviour of (non-)ideal liquid-crystals under shear

We will study the effect of polydispersity, flexibility, chirality and frozen in kinks on bulk flow behaviour in different LC
phases, comparing results between industrial and model systems. Large oscillatory strains and steady shear flow will be
applied to study shear-induced alignment of isotropic states and the distortion and melting of ordered LC phases. We will
use novel experimental, in situ techniques, combining rheology with confocal microscopy and scattering (Rheo-SANS,
LS-echo) to probe the structure and dynamics under shear. The Smoluchowski-equation approach will be extended to
include the non-model parameters mentioned above, complemented by continuous mechanics and MPC simulations, which
will contribute to the understanding of the relevant experimental mechanisms.

Date:6 Apr 2016 →  14 Feb 2019
Keywords:colloids, liquid crystals, rheology
Disciplines:Condensed matter physics and nanophysics
Project type:PhD project