Heat capacity studies of phase transitions in a series of homologous liquid crystals using the AC heat capacity technique

A new calorimeter has been developed for organic liquids which utilizes the AC heat capacity technique. It can measure heat capacity changes of 1 part in 104 with a temperature resolution of 0.3 mK. This calorimeter has been used to study the smectic A-nematic phase transition in a series of homologous liquid crystals. In addition to pure CBOOA, measurements were made on mixtures of CBOOA and the next longer homolog, CBNOA. The character of the transition was found to change from first to second order as the percentage of CBNOA was increased, as predicted by the microscopic theories of Kobayashi and McMillan.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physics

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Smaardyk, John Edward

Contributors dc:contributor

• Mochel, J.M.

• heat capacity
• phase transitions
• homologous liquid crystals
• AC heat capacity

Statement dc:rights

• 1976 John Edward Smaardyk

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

1939268

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/25640