Abstract
From adiabatic-scanning calorimetric results it is demonstrated that in mixtures of 9CB and 10CB, two compounds of the alkylcyanobiphenyl () series, the nematic () to smectic- () transition becomes first order for narrow ranges. From the latent heats a tricritical point is located in the phase diagram. Measurements for 7CB+ 8CB mixtures show that the specific-heat exponent depends on the width of the range for continuous transitions.
- Received 21 October 1983
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.52.204
©1984 American Physical Society