Induced changes of thermotropic properties of phase transitions between smectic A mesophase and isotropic liquid: Effect of surfaces

Abstract

In this work, the effect of thin films on the thermotropic and thermo-optical properties and peculiaxities of the phase transitions between the smectic A and isotropic liquid have been investigated. Peculiarities of the heterophase regions of the straight smectic A-isotropic liquid and reverse isotropic liquid-smectic A phase transitions have been studied. Change of morphologic properties of the heterophase regions, shift of the phase transition temperatures and the change of temperature widths of these heterophase regions under thin film influence have been observed.