Numéro
J. Phys. II France
Volume 5, Numéro 2, February 1995
Page(s) 217 - 225
DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/jp2:1995124
DOI: 10.1051/jp2:1995124
J. Phys. II France 5 (1995) 217-225

Surface Tension of Several Liquid-Crystal Compounds in the Smectic-A or Smectic-A $\mathsf{_{\rm d}}$ Phase

P. Mach1, S. Grantz1, D. A. Debe1, T. Stoebe2 and C. C. Huang1

1  School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, U.S.A.
2  Department of Chemical Enginnering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, U.S.A.

(Received 15 September 1994, received in final form 24 October 1994, accepted 8 November 1994)

Abstract
After implementing a computer-enhanced imaging system in our newly established apparatus, we have achieved much higher resolution in measuring the surface tension of free-standing films in the smectic-A or smectic-A $_{\rm d}$ phase of seven different liquid-crystal compounds. The experimental results reveal two salient features: the relation of surface tension to thickness and the difference in surface tension between the smectic-A and smectic-A $_{\rm d}$ phases.



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