Rotational Viscosities of Polymer Solutions in a Low Molecular Weight Nematic Liquid Crystal

Polystyrcnc polymers (M. W. = 27W) urcrc dissolved in a low molecular wcight nematic mixture Eh3 (E. Merck) in different conccntrfitlons. dnd xludied over a bruad temperature range. The rotatiunal viscosities, y,, of the mixtures were measured by using thc rotating magnetic field method. Contrary to the thcorctical indications and some eilrl~er rwper~mcnlal results, it was found that the rotarinnal viscosity is practically not influenced duc lo I he polymers. which suggests that the polymer conformation if rather spherical in thc aniwtruplc flu~d Prelim~nary invrsligaliuns of rhe flow propertics (capillary flow) show that the cffcctive shear v i s c o ~ ~ l y lnrrcasr Jur tu the nddrd polymer i s similar to that of isotrupic sulutions