Nematic solutions of nematic side chain polymers : twist viscosity effect in the dilute regime

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Abstract
We have shown that the twist viscosity of a nematic medium is largely increased when adding polymeric chains, even in a low concentration regime. This effect is analysed in terms of the chain length and the nematic order parameter. The experimental results are in good agreement with a model implying an anisotropic conformation of the polymeric backbone; they allow a numerical determination of the anisotropy, which appears large enough to be directly measured by a small angle scattering technique