Gel formation in nematic liquid crystals
Gel formation in nematic liquid crystals
- Event time: 1:00pm until 2:00pm
- Event date: 13th November 2017
- Speaker: Navneeta Katyan (Formerly School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
- Location: Room 2511, James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB) James Clerk Maxwell Building Peter Guthrie Tait Road Edinburgh EH9 3FD GB
Event details
Traditional topical creams have been manufactured using liquid crystalline phases and colloidal emulsion from the onset of industrial revolution. Lamellar phases have dominated commercial products, usually carrying a payload of actives through dispersed oil droplets or solid colloids. However, other mesophases may be used to deliver actives.
When colloids are dispersed within a nematic liquid crystal, the alignment of the director is distorted around the particle giving rise to various kinds of defects within the nematic medium. Defect lines, or disclinations, can become entangled as the concentration of colloids in liquid crystal increases giving rise to gel formation. In this talk, I will talk about oscillatory rheology experiments performed on colloidal dispersions in a nematic medium and reveal recent discoveries on the effect of particle charge.
About Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars
This is a weekly series of informal talks given primarily by members of the institute of condensed matter and complex systems, but is also open to members of other groups and external visitors. The aim of the series is to promote discussion and learning of various topics at a level suitable to the broad background of the group. Everyone is welcome to attend..