Determination of phase transition temperatures of liquid crystals by a light scattering method.

A simple analytical system using light scattering (LS) method has been developed to determine phase transition temperatures of liquid crystals (LCs). Intensity changes of the transmission light through a sample were measured as a function of temperature. All LCs and non-LCs showed appreciable changes in the transmission intensity at the phase transition temperature. The transition temperatures determined by the LS method were identical to those by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).