Orientational order in nematic polymers – some variations on the Maier–Saupe theme

Abstract

This review discusses some variations on the standard Maier–Saupe model which have been found to be useful for the understanding of main-chain and side-chain polymers. These models can be reduced to more general forms, providing a library of Maier–Saupe variants that may be applied to a wide range of thermotropic and lyotropic nematic liquid crystals and polymers. In addition, an adaptation of the Maier–Saupe model is proposed that includes a simplified excluded volume Onsager-like entropy term. This may allow a more quantitative evaluation of the importance of molecular shape on the temperature dependence of the <P2> orientational order parameter. Throughout this review some as yet unstudied problems are introduced that may provide the inspiration for further research.