Concept of the Superpositional State in the Problem of Molecular Mesomorphism: An Analytical Review

It is shown that plastic and liquid crystals differ exclusively in characteristics of topologic order and are peculiar structural forms of more general superpositional state. On the basis of the generalization of the concept of a paracrystal a diagram of structural states is constructed allowing to classify partially ordered phases over the degree of destruction of long-range translational and orientational order.