Simulation of Flow–induced Texture Formation in Mesophase Pitch

Mesophase pitches are multicomponent discotic nematic liquid crystals (DNLCs), whose characteristic molecular weight is intermediate between low molar mass and polymeric nematic liquid crystals. The distinguishing features of the mechanical behavior can be summarized by stating that LC materials exhibit anisotropic, non-linear, viscoelastic behaviour quite distinct from Newtonian viscous materials and from isotropic flexiblechain polymers. These differences arise because liquid crystals display various degrees of orientational order and because their elasticity has short and long range contributions, the latter arising from spatial gradients of the orientational order.