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Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 025702 (2002) [4 pages]

Pattern Formation in Phase-Separating Gels with Spontaneous Shear

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Nariya Uchida *
Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung, Postfach 3148, D-55021 Mainz, Germany

Received 7 August 2001; published 20 June 2002

We study pattern formation in gels undergoing simultaneous phase separation and orientational ordering. A 2D numerical simulation is performed using a minimal model of nonlinear elasticity with density-anisotropy coupling. For strong positive coupling, the collapsed phase elongates along the phase boundary and buckle, creating a folded structure with paired topological defects. For negative coupling, soft elasticity of the swollen phase causes a droplet morphology as in liquid-liquid phase separation. Their possible realizations in nematic liquid-crystalline gels are discussed.


©2002 The American Physical Society

URL: http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.025702
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.025702
PACS: 64.75.+g, 47.54.+r, 82.70.Gg, 83.10.Tv

* Present address: Department of Physics, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan.

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