The following substances lend themselves particularly well to projection
purposes. Para-azoxy-anisol with resin, which exhibits the phenomenon of
rotating drops; cholesteryl acetate, which affords a fine example of
spherical liquid crystals; paraazoxy-phenetol with resin, which gives
beautiful interference colours; and the acetyl ester of
para-azoxy-benzoic acid with resin, which shows the uniting of crystals
to form larger and larger individuals.
Perhaps the most interesting and beautiful of all is cholesteryl
acetate, a characteristic field of which is shown in Fig. 121 on Plate
XVI., facing page 208. It is interesting that on this Plate XVI. there
are represented the very hardest and the softest of crystals, namely,
diamonds and liquid crystals. In order to obtain the finest effect the
heating and cooling should be carried out very slowly. The little Bunsen
burner, with a very minute flame, is first placed under the slide, and
allowed to act until the substance melts and forms a clear liquid. The
gas jet is then removed and the air-blasts, both of which are
simultaneously actuated when the tap controlling them is turned, are
very gently brought into operation, one on each side of the centre of
the slide, there being a good working distance of a quarter of an inch
or more between the slide and the objective. The cooling is thus brought
about very slowly. The Nicols should be crossed, and at this time the
field is quite dark, the liquid substance being at this temperature
(well above 114.5° the ordinary melting point) an ordinary singly
refractive liquid.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account