MOLECULAR-STRUCTURE AND ELASTIC BEHAVIOR OF SA LIQUID-CRYSTALS

A tentative correlation of the elasticity of smectic A liquid crystals with molecular structure is presented. The isothermal compressibility modulus was measured via the stress-strain relation by means of a previously described apparatus. A number of benzoate derivatives of different lengths and symmetries were examined. Preliminary results showing that the stiffness of the S//A phase apparently increases with molecular symmetry, are discussed in relation to molecular models of S//A layers.