Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Diffusivity Anisotropy in a Liquid Crystal

Thermal conductivity (k) and thermal diffusivity (D) of the 9CB liquid crystal have been simultaneously determined by a photopyroelectric (PPE) technique in the temperature range from 308 K to 332 K where two different phase transitions occur. The measurements have been performed on oriented samples and the k and D anisotropy has been studied. The behaviour of the macroscopic order parameter vs. temperature has been determined and the order of the phase transitions checked. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.