Polymers and rods (IMAGE) Eindhoven University of Technology Caption A five-phase equilibrium with at the top a gas phase with unaligned rods (isotropic phase), then a liquid phase with rods pointing in about the same direction (nematic liquid crystal), subsequently a liquid phase with rods lying in different layers (smectic liquid crystal), and two solid phases at the bottom. Credit Image: ICMS animation studio Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.