Theory of thermotropic polymer liquid crystals

The thermal nematic system consisting of semiflexible polymer liquid crystal chains is considered. Orientational order for liquid crystal particles and for chain as a whole in addition to the chain anisotropy parameters at the nematic-to-isotropic transition and in the stable nematic phase are considered. Results are obtained by extension of the Maier and Saupe theory of thermotropic liquid crystals on systems of semiflexible macromolecules.