In this work, we report the results of x-ray diffraction, density and birefringence measurements on three fluorinated liquid crystalline compounds having negative dielectric anisotropy. Small angle x-ray diffraction data from aligned samples have been analyzed to determine the orientational order parameter as a function of temperature. The order parameter values were also determined from birefringence measurements and the results were compared with mean field theory. Structural parameters like intermolecular distance and layer thickness (in smectic B phase), apparent molecular length (in nematic phase) have been determined and the order of the phase transition in these compounds has been discussed.
Two tri-component mixtures as base mixtures for vertically aligned mode LCD's were prepared. The eutectic compositions were theoretically estimated and experimentally verified from differential scanning calorimetry studies. A room temperature nematic mixture with fairly broad operating range emerged from each of the tri-component mixtures. The optical birefringence of these mixtures at the eutectic composition was measured as a function of temperature. X-ray diffraction measurements were done on these mixtures to obtain the orientational order parameters as a function of temperature. The order parameter values were also determined from birefringence measurements and the results were compared with mean field theory. Structural parameters like intermolecular distance and apparent molecular length have also been determined.
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