Textures and defects in lyotropic liquid crystals of ethyl-cyanoethyl cellulose

Textures and defects in ethyl-cyanoethyl cellulose [(E-CE)C]/dichloroacetic acid (DCA) cholesteric liquid crystalline solutions and in (E-CE)C/polyacrylic acid (PAA) composites were observed and studied by polarizing microscopy and electron microscopy. The existence of χ, λ and τ disclinations were observed in the mesophase with disk-like and band-like textures. Pairs of disclinations with different signs were also found in the mesophase with the band-like texture. Domain walls were observed in (E-CE)C/PAA composite films with cholesteric order by TEM. The orientation of polymer chains in the vicinity of the core of the disclinations is discussed.