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Statistical models of elasticity in main chain and smectic liquid ...

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124 CHAPTER 5. SOFT ELASTICITY OF SMECTIC ELASTOMERSwith stra<strong>in</strong> proportional to the square <strong>of</strong> the applied electric field) [103]. Polydoma<strong>in</strong>SmC elastomers have also been shown to exhibit shape memory whichmay also prove to be important technologically [104].5.2 S<strong>of</strong>t modes <strong>of</strong> biaxial <strong>smectic</strong> A elastomers5.2.1 Model biaxial <strong>smectic</strong> A elastomerThe model <strong>of</strong> a biaxial SmA used here is an extension <strong>of</strong> the model presented<strong>in</strong> chapter 4. It is assumed that there is no <strong>in</strong>teraction between the formation<strong>of</strong> the layers <strong>and</strong> the secondary alignment axis <strong>of</strong> the mesogens. As a resultthe required free energy density is given byf = 1 2 µTr [λ·l 0 ·λ T ·l −1] + 1 2 B(d/d 0 −1) 2 (5.11)where both l 0 <strong>and</strong> l are now biaxial, with pr<strong>in</strong>cipal axes n, m <strong>and</strong> l. Theprimary alignment axes <strong>of</strong> the mesogens, n is identified with the <strong>smectic</strong> layernormal, but the secondary alignment axis is free to rotate <strong>in</strong> the plane <strong>of</strong> thelayer to rotate <strong>in</strong> the plane <strong>of</strong> the layers. Consequently, the s<strong>of</strong>t modes <strong>of</strong> thisbiaxial SmA arise because <strong>of</strong> the freedom <strong>of</strong> the secondary alignment axis. Ifwe assume that the layers move aff<strong>in</strong>ely with the matrix, then it follows thatthe layer spac<strong>in</strong>g is given bydd 0=1|λ −T ·n 0 | , (5.12)where n 0 is the <strong>in</strong>itial direction <strong>of</strong> the primary axis <strong>of</strong> alignment.5.2.2 General form <strong>of</strong> s<strong>of</strong>t modes <strong>in</strong> biaxial SmA elastomersS<strong>in</strong>ce the model <strong>of</strong> biaxial SmA elastomer considered here is based on that <strong>of</strong>a nematic elastomer, the start<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>t used is the general form <strong>of</strong> s<strong>of</strong>t modes<strong>in</strong> nematic elastomersλ = l 1/2 ·W ·l −1/20 , (5.13)where W is a general rotation matrix, l 0 is the <strong>in</strong>itial biaxial anisotropy tensor<strong>and</strong> l is the current anisotropy tensor <strong>of</strong> the polymer. A general deformationcould <strong>in</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ciple change the layer spac<strong>in</strong>g. However for s<strong>of</strong>t modes the layerspac<strong>in</strong>g must rema<strong>in</strong> fixed. This constra<strong>in</strong>t can be expressed via Eq. (5.12) asn T 0 ·λ −1 ·λ −T ·n 0 = 1. (5.14)Insert<strong>in</strong>g the general form <strong>of</strong> a s<strong>of</strong>t mode Eq. (5.13) <strong>in</strong>to the layer spac<strong>in</strong>gconstra<strong>in</strong>t Eq. (5.14) yields the follow<strong>in</strong>g equation1r = nT 0 ·W T ·l −1 ·W ·n 0 . (5.15)

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