Differential Scanning Calorimetry of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal MBOPDOB Near Phase Transitions

Differential scanning calorimetric results of ferroelectric liquid crystal D-4-(2-methylbutoxy)phenyl 4-decyloxybenzoate (MBOPDOB) were recorded. The overcooling of Sm C* phase in the sample promotes the ordering of the molecular orientation. Small heat of the Sm A-Sm C* transition manifests a continuous second-order nature of the transition which is attributed to a large temperature range of the Sm A phase and a small spontaneous polarization. A model structure concerning the small polarization is also discussed.