X-Ray Study and Microscopic Study of the Reentrant Nematic Phase

Abstract

We report results from x-ray experiments on mixtures of N-($p$-hexyloxybenzylidene)-$p$-aminobenzonitrile (HBAB) in N-$p$-cyanobenzylidene-$p$-$n$-octloxyaniline (CBOOA); very recent microscopic observations on mixtures of cyanohexyloxybiphenyl in cyanooctyloxy-biphenyl are in agreement with these results. The evidence suggests that the reentrant nematic phase is similar to the classical nematic phase but may coexist with crystalline fluctuations.