Colloidal suspensions of platelets are known, experimentally, to show a variety of phenomena reflecting the
interplay of their Oseen-Frank elastic constants and surface tension effects [1, 2]. We have previously determined
the Frank elastic constants of thin hard platelets by Monte Carlo simulation [3] and have recently extended this work to
non-zero thickness [4], in both cases comparing with theoretical predictions. As expected, the bend elastic constant K3
is at least an order of magnitude smaller than the other two; the results are in reasonable agreement with experiment. We
have also examined the phases of thin hard platelets confined between hard flat walls, observing surface-induced ordering
and capillary condensation of the nematic phase.
[1] D. van der Beek, P. Davidson, H. H. Wensink, G. J. Vroege, and H. N. W. Lekkerkerker, Phys. Rev. E, 77, 031708 (2008).
[2] A. A. Verhoeff, R. H. J. Otten, P. van der Schoot, and H. N. W. Lekkerkerker, J. Phys. Chem. B, 113, 3704 (2009).
[3] P. A. O'Brien, M. P. Allen, D. L. Cheung, M. Dennison, and A. J. Masters, Phys. Rev. E, 78, 051705/1 (2008).
[4] P. A. O'Brien, M. P. Allen, D. L. Cheung, M. Dennison, and A. J. Masters, in preparation.