Equilibrium and shear-induced conformations of a side-chain liquid crystal polymer

These studies delineate the conformations adopted by a side-chain liquid-crystalline polymer subjected to a steady-state shear flow as well as the corresponding me so pha se director orientations. Two distinct director orientations are identified in the nematic phase, giving evidence of a shear-induced transition from a flow-aligning to a non–flow-aligning behavior. This transition coincides, at rest, with a subtle change from prolate to oblate polymer main-chain conformation. In the smectic phase, the layers form multilayer cylinders oriented along the velocity axis.