Nematic ordering in anisotropic elastomers: Effect of frozen anisotropy

Nematic ordering in anisotropic non-Gaussian elastomers is considered theoretically using mean field approximation. We focus on the effect of anisotropy during network cross-linking on the system elasticity and, in particular, on the so-called soft deformation mode. As the main result, we calculate the dependence of the elastomer free energy on the angle between the axis of “frozen” anisotropy and the nematic director. The dependence of the isotropic-nematic transition point on the orientational field acting on the monomers during the cross-linking process is also calculated. Copyright EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag 1998