6533b852fe1ef96bd12ab502
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Mechanical and optical properties of continuously spun fibres of a main-chain smectic A elastomer
Alexey EreminM. MorysKirsten HarthAndrew DemiglioChristian OhmRudolf ZentelRalf Stannariussubject
Condensed Matter::Soft Condensed MatterMaterials scienceBirefringenceChain (algebraic topology)Phase (matter)IsotropyLiquid crystal elastomerGeneral ChemistryComposite materialCondensed Matter PhysicsActuatorElastomerSpinningdescription
Oriented smectic liquid crystal elastomer fibres are prepared with a special wet-spinning technique. The continuous spinning process in principle allows the preparation of fibres with arbitrary length. In comparison to ordinary rubbers, they have unique mechanical properties that qualify them as potential candidates for mechanical actuator applications. We demonstrate that these fibres show a remarkable contraction and extension at the transition from the ordered smectic to the disordered isotropic phase. We characterise their most relevant physical properties, viz. the thermally driven shape changes, stress–strain relations and optical birefringence, by optical and mechanical measurements.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-01-01 | Soft Matter |