6533b7dafe1ef96bd126ed53
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Preparation of actuating fibres of oriented main-chain liquid crystalline elastomers by a wetspinning process
Ralf StannariusF. Romina ForstLydia BraunChristophe A. SerraAlexey EreminRudolf ZentelM. MorysChristian Ohmsubject
chemistry.chemical_classificationPhase transitionMaterials scienceDiffusionMicrofluidicstechnology industry and agriculture02 engineering and technologyGeneral ChemistryPolymer010402 general chemistry021001 nanoscience & nanotechnologyCondensed Matter PhysicsElastomer01 natural sciencesSilicone oil0104 chemical sciencesSolventchemistry.chemical_compoundchemistryChemical engineeringLiquid crystalPolymer chemistry[SPI.GPROC]Engineering Sciences [physics]/Chemical and Process Engineering0210 nano-technologydescription
We present a versatile method to prepare oriented fibres with a defined thickness from main-chain liquid crystalline elastomers. A microfluidic setup is utilized to inject a solution of a photocrosslinkable smectic A main-chain polymer into a co-flowing stream of silicone oil. Diffusion of the solvent into the oil yields solid polymer filaments that are crosslinked in a continuous way by UV-irradiation. The obtained fibres are highly oriented and show a reversible and significant contraction during the liquid crystal's phase transition.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-05 | Soft Matter |