On the kinetics of nematic ordering in solutions of semiflexible macromolecules: a Monte Carlo simulation

The occurrence of nematic liquid-crystalline ordering in semidilute and concentrated solutions of semiflexible macromolecules has been studied by means of grand canonical Monte Carlo computer simulations using the bond fluctuation model and the configurational bias scheme. Chain length was equal to 20 monomer units, while the persistence length was about 5 monomer units. We used an intramolecular stiffness potential depending on the angle between successive bonds along the chain and on the bond length, and an attractive interaction between monomer units to model variable solvent quality. We have monitored the processes of appearance and destruction of monodomain and multidomain nematic configurations. Our findings are that the first stages of both the ordering and disordering processes occur upon sufficient oversaturation through the spinodal ordering scenario. Possible screening of nucleation processes and the applicability of our model to real kinetics are discussed. Results of our simulations are visualized in six movies.