Ringed spherulitic and undulated textures in the nematic phase of a mixture of trans-4-hexylcyclohexanecarboxylic and benzoic acids

TL;DR

This study uses polarising optical microscopy to analyze unique ringed spherulitic and undulated textures in the nematic phase of a specific liquid-crystal mixture, revealing a texture transition at 71°C.

Contribution

It reports the discovery of distinctive textures and a texture transition in the nematic phase of a trans-4-hexylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid and benzoic acid mixture.

Findings

Identification of ringed spherulitic textures in the nematic phase

Observation of undulated textures persisting up to 71°C

Detection of a texture transition within the nematic phase

Abstract

We present a polarising optical microscopy study of a liquid-crystal mixture of trans-4-hexylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid (C6) and benzoic acid. Both materials have carboxylic groups that can form dimers through hydrogen bonding. The mixture is nematic and room temperature and has the clearing point at 88 Celsius. The nematic phase shows ringed spherulites, sometimes looking like spiral structures, and undulated textures, which remain visible heating the sample till 71 Celsius. This is the temperature of a texture transition inside the nematic phase.