Micellar shape anisotropy and elastic constants in discotic lyotropic liquid crystals

Abstract

The elastic constants of a discotic lyotropic nematic liquid crystal are calculated by means of a pseudo-molecular approach as functions of the micellar shape anisotropy. By assuming that the temperature dependence of the ratio of the elastic constants comes from the temperature dependence of the micellar shape anisotropy, the theoretical predictions are connected with experimental measurements for the ratio $K_{33}/K_{11}$. This procedure permits to determine, in a phenomenological way, the temperature dependence for the ratio of elastic constants and for the micellar shape anisotropy near the nematic-isotropic transition in agreement with the experimental data.