Abstract
We use a simple van der Waals theory, suitably extended to the solid phase and to anisotropic interactions, to study the phase behaviour of a system of particles with nematic interactions. Very rich phase behaviour is found which indicates, in particular, that the nematic liquid is stable only for large values of the strength of the nematic interactions. The isotropic liquid-nematic liquid and the isotropic solid-nematic solid transitions are always first-order. Additionally, we have found that the nematic liquid is thermodynamically stable only in a small domain of the temperature-density plane contained between two triple lines. Keywords: Phase diagrams; Nematic interactions; Free energy; Transitions. © 2010 JSR Publications. ISSN: 2070-0237 (Print); 2070-0245 (Online). All rights reserved. DOI: 10.3329/jsr.v2i3.4438 J. Sci. Res. 2 (3), 419-432 (2010)
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