Tailoring the Thermomechanical Properties of Liquid Crystal Elastomers through Process Control
발표자
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초록
내용
Soft materials capable of performing mechanical work when exposed to external stimuli are especially valuable in the development of smart devices and systems. Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are lightly crosslinked polymers that integrate liquid crystalline order with rubber-like elasticity. A key characteristic of these materials is their ability to undergo large, reversible shape changes due to the order-disorder transition making them suitable for applications ranging from sensors to actuators in biological systems. These materials can be engineered to exhibit various shape-changing behaviors and mechanical properties, enhancing their versatility. To maximize their utility, it is crucial to adjust their thermomechanical properties for specific applications. We propose a processing strategy to tailoring the network structure, thereby allowing precise tuning of LCEs' thermomechanical properties for a broad range of potential applications.