Electromechanical behavior of smectic liquid crystal elastomers

Vernon Das; David H. Brown; Peter Styring; Raymond W. K. Allen

doi:10.1117/12.484435

28 July 2003 Electromechanical behavior of smectic liquid crystal elastomers

Vernon Das, David H. Brown, Peter Styring, Raymond W. K. Allen

Proceedings Volume 5051, Smart Structures and Materials 2003: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD); (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.484435
Event: Smart Structures and Materials, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Two liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) were synthesized based on those reported by Finkelmann and coworkers. The elastomers were mechanically aligned in the SmA phase. One of the elastomers was prepared with a chiral mesogen with the aim of producing a SmA* phase. Both these elastomers were studied mechanically under the influence of a uniaxial force; also their response to thermally and electrically induced dimensional changes was measured. Dimensional changes were measured using a Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA). Crosslinking liquid crystal polymers increases the materials’ Young’s modulus and gives it the ability to retain its original shape upon removal of external forces. This characteristic makes LCEs highly suitable as actuator devices. Electromechanical studies performed on these samples indicate a need to improve material composition.

Citation Download Citation

Vernon Das, David H. Brown, Peter Styring, and Raymond W. K. Allen "Electromechanical behavior of smectic liquid crystal elastomers", Proc. SPIE 5051, Smart Structures and Materials 2003: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD), (28 July 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.484435

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