H i r s t Fundamentals of F Physical sciences u n d Soft a Soft materials such as liquid crystals, polymers, biomaterials, and colloidal m systems touch every aspect of our lives. Not surprisingly, the rapid growth e n of these fields over the past few decades has resulted in an explosion of soft t a matter research groups worldwide. Fundamentals of Soft Matter Science l Matter s introduces and explores the scientific study of soft matter and molecular self- o assembly, covering the major classifications of materials, their structure and f characteristics, and everyday applications. S o Designed for beginners to the field with a basic scientific background, this f Science t readable book emphasizes conceptual understanding, minimizing detailed M mathematical derivations. Each chapter is dedicated to a different group of soft materials, including liquid crystals, surfactants, polymers, colloids, and a soft biomaterials. Each subject is broken down into the essential concepts: t t material structures and physical characteristics, some simple theoretical ideas, e and important experimental methods. The book emphasizes commonly used r experimental techniques and practical applications. Full color illustrations and S photographs are incorporated throughout to help describe the systems and c key concepts. i e n c e Linda S. Hirst K11369 ISBN: 978-1-4398-2775-8 90000 www.crcpress.com 9 781439 827758 w w w. c r c p r e s s . c o m K11369_COVER_final_revised.indd 1 10/19/12 12:52 PM Fundamentals of Soft Matter Science Fundamentals of Soft Matter Science Linda S. Hirst With photography and illustrations by Trevor P. 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Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at http://www.taylorandfrancis.com and the CRC Press Web site at http://www.crcpress.com This book is dedicated my Dad, Bill Matkin, who inspired my love of books Contents Preface ............................................................................................................................................................................................................xiii Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................................................................................................xv About the Author ...................................................................................................................................................................................xvii About the Illustrator ...............................................................................................................................................................................xix Chapter 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................1 Learning Objectives ...................................................................................................................................................1 1.1 What Is Soft Matter? ....................................................................................................................................2 1.2 Basic Thermal Physics ................................................................................................................................3 1.2.1 Thermal Equilibrium ................................................................................................................3 1.2.2 Phase Transitions .......................................................................................................................4 1.2.3 Solids, Liquids, and Gases .....................................................................................................6 1.2.4 The Ideal Gas ................................................................................................................................7 1.3 Intermolecular Forces ................................................................................................................................9 1.3.1 The van der Waals Attraction ............................................................................................9 1.3.2 Hard Sphere Repulsion ........................................................................................................10 1.3.3 Electrostatic Forces ................................................................................................................11 1.3.4 The van der Waals Equation of State (for a Nonideal Gas) .............................11 1.3.5 Hydrophobic Effects and the Hydrogen Bond .....................................................11 1.4 Diffusion and Random Walks .............................................................................................................14 1.5 Self-Assembly ...............................................................................................................................................16 1.6 The Phase Diagram ...................................................................................................................................18 1.6.1 The Clausius–Clapeyron Equation ................................................................................20 1.7 Aggregation and Assembly .................................................................................................................21 1.7.1 Power Laws and Fractals.....................................................................................................22 1.8 Mechanical Properties of Soft Matter ............................................................................................25 1.8.1 Stress and Strain .......................................................................................................................26 Questions .......................................................................................................................................................................29 The Concept of Soft Materials and Their Characteristics ...................................................29 Review of Thermal Physics ...................................................................................................................30 Review the Mechanical Properties of Materials ......................................................................30 References ......................................................................................................................................................................31 Further Reading ..........................................................................................................................................................31 Chapter 2 Liquid Crystals ..............................................................................................................................................................33 Learning Objectives .................................................................................................................................................33 2.1 Introduction to Liquid Crystals ..........................................................................................................34 2.1.1 What Is a Liquid Crystal? .....................................................................................................34 2.2 Anisotropy in Liquid Crystals ...............................................................................................................34 2.3 The Order Parameter ...............................................................................................................................36 vii viii Contents 2.4 Thermotropic and Lyotropic Liquid Crystals .............................................................................36 2.5 Birefringence in Liquid Crystals .........................................................................................................36 2.6 Defect Textures ...........................................................................................................................................38 2.7 Thermotropic Liquid Crystal Phases ...............................................................................................39 2.7.1 The Nematic Phase ...............................................................................................................40 2.7.2 The Smectic Phases ...............................................................................................................41 2.7.3 Chirality in Liquid Crystals ..................................................................................................43 2.7.4 The Cholesteric Phase .........................................................................................................44 2.7.5 The Chiral Smectic Phases ................................................................................................46 2.7.6 Other Chiral Smectic Phases ............................................................................................47 2.7.7 The Bent-Core (Banana) Phases ......................................................................................49 2.7.8 Discotic Phases .........................................................................................................................50 2.8 Experimental Techniques ......................................................................................................................51 2.8.1 Deforming Liquid Crystals .................................................................................................51 2.8.2 Polarized Optical Microscopy ..........................................................................................52 2.8.3 Electro-optical Measurements ........................................................................................55 2.8.4 The Dielectric Properties of Liquid Crystals ............................................................55 2.8.5 The Fréedericksz Transition and Measurement of the Elastic Constants ......................................................................................................................56 2.8.6 X-ray Diffraction .......................................................................................................................58 2.8.7 Differential Scanning Calorimetry .................................................................................60 2.9 Applications of Liquid Crystals ...........................................................................................................62 2.9.1 Liquid Crystal Displays .........................................................................................................62 2.9.2 The Twisted Nematic Display ..........................................................................................64 2.9.3 Spatial Light Modulators .....................................................................................................65 2.9.4 Liquid Crystal Temperature Sensors ............................................................................65 Questions .......................................................................................................................................................................67 The Characteristics of Liquid Crystal Materials ........................................................................67 Anisotropy and Birefringence ............................................................................................................67 The Structure of Liquid Crystal Phases .........................................................................................68 Experimental Techniques and Liquid Crystal Technologies ............................................68 References ......................................................................................................................................................................69 Further Reading ..........................................................................................................................................................69 Chapter 3 Surfactants .....................................................................................................................................................................71 Learning Objectives .................................................................................................................................................71 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................72 3.2 Types of Surfactants .................................................................................................................................72 3.3 Surface Tension and Surfactants ......................................................................................................74 3.4 Self-Assembly and Phase Behavior..................................................................................................77 3.4.1 The Micellar Phase and the Critical Micelle Concentration ...........................78 3.4.2 Other Surfactant Phases .....................................................................................................79 3.4.3 The Packing Parameter ........................................................................................................81 3.5 Membrane Elasticity and Curvature ...............................................................................................82 3.5.1 Bicontinuous Phases.............................................................................................................84 3.6 Applications of Surfactants ..................................................................................................................85 3.6.1 Detergents ...................................................................................................................................85 Contents ix 3.6.2 Detergent Foams.....................................................................................................................87 3.6.3 Emulsifiers and Emulsions ..................................................................................................88 3.6.4 Commercial Paints and Inks.............................................................................................90 3.6.5 Surfactants and Gel Electrophoresis ...........................................................................91 3.6.6 Lung Surfactant ........................................................................................................................91 3.7 Experimental Methods ...........................................................................................................................92 3.7.1 The Langmuir Trough ...........................................................................................................92 3.7.2 Measuring Surface Tension ..............................................................................................94 Questions .......................................................................................................................................................................95 Physical and Chemical Properties of Surfactants ...................................................................95 The Hydrophobic Effect .........................................................................................................................95 The Importance of Molecular Shape on Phase Structure and Membrane Curvature ...........................................................................................................95 References ......................................................................................................................................................................96 Further Reading ..........................................................................................................................................................96 Chapter 4 Polymers ..........................................................................................................................................................................97 Learning Objectives .................................................................................................................................................97 4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................98 4.2 Early Polymers ..............................................................................................................................................98 4.3 Polymer Structure ......................................................................................................................................99 4.4 Liquid Crystal Polymers .......................................................................................................................103 4.5 Polymer Solutions ...................................................................................................................................104 4.5.1 The Ideal Chain ......................................................................................................................105 4.5.2 Excluded Volume and Solvent Effects ....................................................................107 4.5.3 The Radius of Gyration ......................................................................................................108 4.5.4 Increasing the Concentration of a Polymer Solution .....................................108 4.5.5 Stretching a Polymer Chain: The Entropic Spring .............................................110 4.5.6 Polyelectrolytes ......................................................................................................................112 4.5.7 Polymer Gels ............................................................................................................................113 4.5.8 Hydrogels ...................................................................................................................................114 4.6 The Glassy and Polymer Melt Phases ...........................................................................................115 4.7 The Mechanical Properties of Polymers.....................................................................................117 4.8 Experimental Techniques ...................................................................................................................120 4.8.1 Scattering Techniques.......................................................................................................120 4.8.2 Polymer Spectroscopy ......................................................................................................122 4.8.2.1 Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy .......................................123 4.8.2.2 Raman Spectroscopy ..................................................................................123 4.8.2.3 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ................................................................124 Questions ....................................................................................................................................................................127 Polymer Architecture ............................................................................................................................127 Polymers in Solution .............................................................................................................................127 Experimental Methods ........................................................................................................................128 References ...................................................................................................................................................................128 Further Reading .......................................................................................................................................................128