Nematic elastomer fiber actuator

J Naciri, A Srinivasan, H Jeon, N Nikolov… - …, 2003 - ACS Publications
J Naciri, A Srinivasan, H Jeon, N Nikolov, P Keller, BR Ratna
Macromolecules, 2003ACS Publications
We report the synthesis and physical studies of a liquid crystalline elastomer fiber consisting
of two side-chain liquid crystalline acrylates and a nonmesogennic comonomer side group
that acts as a reactive site for cross-linking. The terpolymer was synthesized by radical
polymerization, and the cross-linking of the network was achieved by using a diisocyanate
unit. The fiber formed shows good liquid crystal alignment texture under a cross-polarizer
microscope. Thermoelastic response shows strain changes through the nematic− isotropic …
We report the synthesis and physical studies of a liquid crystalline elastomer fiber consisting of two side-chain liquid crystalline acrylates and a nonmesogennic comonomer side group that acts as a reactive site for cross-linking. The terpolymer was synthesized by radical polymerization, and the cross-linking of the network was achieved by using a diisocyanate unit. The fiber formed shows good liquid crystal alignment texture under a cross-polarizer microscope. Thermoelastic response shows strain changes through the nematic−isotropic phase transition of about 30−35%. A retractive force of nearly 300 kPa was measured in the isotropic phase. Static work loop studies show the viscoelastic losses in these materials to be very small. We also present preliminary studies on the effect of doping carbon nanotubes on the induced strain at the nematic−isotropic transition.
ACS Publications