Optical textures observed during the shearing of thermotropic liquid-crystal polymers

We report optical observations of a number of main-chain thermotropic liquid-crystal polymers. In situ measurements were carried out at elevated temperatures using an apparatus that is capable of providing a controlled translational oscillatory shearing motion to samples of typically 1–10 µm thickness. In static samples we observe either a general birefringence with local scattering from line defects which we believe to be disclinations, or in thicker samples a texture dominated by light scattering due to the presence of dence disclinations. Superimposed shearing appears to result in both the multiplication of disclinations and the progressive decrease in the distance between individual disclinations. At high shear rates pure birefringence in the direction of flow is observed. Finally we report on the optical relaxation behaviour of oriented samples together with an explanation for the skin core effect observed when thermotropic liquid-crystal polymers are extruded through dies.