Pluralizing actuation behavior of 3D printable liquid crystal elastomers via polymerization sequence control.

ABSTRACT: Mechanical stretching is commonly used for mesogen alignment which is essential for the muscle-like actuations of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs). Despite the simplicity of the method, the mesogens are typically aligned in the stretching direction, limiting exclusively the LCE to an actuation mode of cooling-induced elongation. Here, we design an interpenetrating double network consisting of an LCE network and an elastomer network, with one polymerized network stretched before the polymerization of the other network. Depending on the polymerization sequence of the two networks, the double network shows two opposite actuation modes, namely, the conventional cooling-induced elongation or an unusual cooling-induced contraction. Strategic integration of the two opposite behaviors into the sam

SUBMITTER: Peng W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11313953 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature