The viscosity of nematic liquid crystals

A simultaneous examination of data on the dynamic, kinematic, and rotational viscosities of nematic liquid crystals (NLC) belonging to 320 chemical classes has been carried out for the first time. The methods for the measurement of the viscosities of the NLC have been subjected to a comparative analysis and the limits of applicability of different procedures for the description of their temperature variation are discussed. The tables present data permitting the calculation with satisfactory accuracy of the viscosities of the majority of mesogenic substances at any temperature in the nematic range. The influence of the molecular structure of the NLC on the viscosities and on their temperature variation has been analysed and information is presented about the viscosities of the Soviet and foreign liquid crystal materials used in practice.
The bibliography includes 158 references.