Date Published:

2002

Abstract:

A field theory for the many-chain mesogen/flexible sequence model is developed. The theory is solved using a creation–annihilation formalism based on a reference state that recovers the Gupta–Edwards solution for the many-chain homopolymer system. Orientational averages are performed, and a nonlinear equation for the orientational tensor-dependent free energy is derived. The effects of flexibility, stiffness and intersegment alignment on orientational ordering, the nematic/isotropic density threshold, and the segmental orientational ordering at the nematic/isotropic transition is determined. © 2002 American Institute of Physics.

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