NEMATIC POLYMERS - EXCLUDED-VOLUME EFFECTS

We present a theoretical model which describes a cooperative helix–coil liquid‐crystal phase transition. We show that this model predicts a first‐order phase transition where certain types of chainlike macromolecules in solution make a transition from a nearly coiled to a nearly rigid conformation accompanied by a simultaneous development of long‐range nematic‐type liquid crystalline orientational order. From this model, the phase boundaries between nematic and isotropic phases are obtained as functions of concentration of macromolecules and of other physical parameters. Copyright © 1979 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.