Self-diffusion of rodlike molecules in strong shear fields

Steady-state rheology and structure of soft hybrid mixtures of liquid crystals and magnetic nanoparticles

Using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, we study the rheology of a model hybrid mixture of liquid crystals (LCs) and dipolar soft spheres (DSS) representing magnetic nanoparticles. The bulk isotropic LC-DSS mixture is sheared with different shear rates using Lees-Edwards periodic boundary conditions. The steady-state rheological properties and the effect of the shear on the microstructure of the mixture are studied for different strengths of the dipolar coupling, λ, among the DSS. We find that at large shear rates, the mixture shows a shear-thinning behavior for all considered values of λ. At low and intermediate values of λ, a crossover from Newtonian to non-Newtonian behavior is observed as the rate of applied shear is increased. In contrast, for large values of λ, such a crossover is not observed within the range of shear rates considered. Also, the extent of the non-Newtonian regime increases as λ is increased. These features can be understood via the shear-induced changes of the microstructure. In particular, the LCs display a shear-induced isotropic-to-nematic transition at large shear rates with a shear-rate dependent degree of nematic ordering. The DSS show a shear-induced nematic ordering only for large values of λ, where the particles self-assemble into chains. Moreover, at large λ and low shear rates, our simulations indicate that the DSS form ferromagnetic domains.

Molecular dynamics simulation of planar elongational flow in a nematic liquid crystal based on the Gay–Berne potential

Simulation of a nematic liquid crystal undergoing elongational flow using the SLLOD equations of motion with Kraynik–Reinelt boundary conditions.

Dynamics and structure in complex liquids under shear explored by neutron scattering

It is well established that the structural order of macromolecules can be affected by the application of shear. For example, triblock copolymers in aqueous solutions are known to aggregate for high concentrations. For increasing temperature the polymer micelles crystallize and offer a model system for the investigation of percolation and crystallization. The crystalline phases rearrange under shear. We correlate the structural assemblages of polymer micelles to the microscopic dynamics of the polymer monomers as well as to the solvent molecules at rest and under shear. We find the monomer dynamics affected by the different arrangements of the polymer micelles in aqueous solutions. For pronounced structural ordering we report on the monomer diffusion to become anisotropic under shear, with the diffusive mode in the direction of the shear gradient being slowed down with respect to that in the direction of the flow.