Liquid Crystal Alignments and Surface Energy

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Abstract
The relationship between molecular alignments, surface tension (γL) of nematic liquid crystals and critical surface tension (γC) of surfaces are examined for various surface structures using thirteen types of alkoxysilanes RSi(OCnH2n+1)3. As the results, Creagh's conception that the perpendicular alignments are induced when γ C γ< L , and parallel alignments are induced when γ C > γ L was found to be not necessarily correct. Moreover, Porte's theory which gave the theoretical basis to Creagh's conception was examined, and it is clarified that the prerequisite for the theory is not generally realized.