We present an elastic model to explain the temperature-induced surface transitions observed on the spontaneous orientation of nematic liquid crystals on solid surfaces. The destabilizing effect is due to the mixed splay-bend curvature elasticity K₁₃. The transition is temperature driven by the change in the nematic-liquid-crystal order parameter S. The transition is continuous. A large angular variation localized close to the boundary is predicted. Analyzing experimental data, we estimate {}K₁₃{}{}10^-7 cgs units.
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Barbero et al. (1993) studied this question.
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