Phase transitions in suspensions of needle-like particles in liquid crystals

The thermodynamical properties of suspensions of rigid stretched particles in liquid crystal solvent are studied with the help of modification of Mc Millan and Maier-Saupe theories. We have shown that the presence of particles increases the temperatures of phase transitions isotropic medium-nematic and nematic-smectic A in a solvent as well. The indirect interaction between particles through nematic solvent effectively acts as an attraction. This attraction may induce their condensation and phase transition of type “gas-liquid” in the system of particles.