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Related Concept Videos

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
Classification and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic Polymers01:28

Classification and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic Polymers

Synthetic polymers are classified as elastomers, fibers, or plastics based on their crystallinity. Crystallinity, the degree of long-range order in the solid state, influences the mechanical properties (stretching or contracting) of elastomers. Elastomers are flexible polymers that can expand or contract easily upon the application of an external force. They have numerous crosslinks that pull them back into their original shape when stress is removed. Silicones, for instance, are highly elastic...

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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites
12:21

Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites

Published on: February 6, 2016

Well-defined liquid crystal gels from telechelic polymers.

Yan Xia1, Rafael Verduzco, Robert H Grubbs

  • 1Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|January 17, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Researchers created novel liquid crystal (LC) gels using click chemistry and ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). These LC gels demonstrate fast, reversible optic switching, with performance influenced by polymer strand length.

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Novel Techniques for Observing Structural Dynamics of Photoresponsive Liquid Crystals
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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Liquid Crystals

Background:

  • Liquid crystal (LC) networks are advanced materials with tunable properties.
  • Controlling network parameters like molecular weight and cross-link functionality is crucial for optimizing LC gel performance.
  • Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) offers a route to well-defined polymer precursors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize well-defined liquid crystal networks with precise control over molecular architecture.
  • To investigate the formation and properties of liquid crystal gels (LC gels) formed by swelling these networks.
  • To explore the electro-optic switching behavior of LC gels and its dependence on network structure.

Main Methods:

  • Preparation of telechelic polymers via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP).
  • "Click" cross-linking of telechelic polymers to form liquid crystal networks.
  • Swelling of networks in 5CB (a small molecule liquid crystal) to create LC gels.
  • Evaluation of optic switching properties under applied electric fields.

Main Results:

  • Successfully synthesized well-defined LC networks with controlled molecular weight between cross-links and cross-link functionality.
  • LC gels exhibited high swelling ratios and demonstrated fast, reversible, low-threshold optic switching.
  • Shorter polymer strands in LC gels resulted in a reduced degree of optic switching compared to longer strands.
  • The study established control over mesogen density and network strand length.

Conclusions:

  • The developed approach enables precise control over key parameters of LC networks, including strand length, cross-linker functionality, and mesogen density.
  • This control facilitates detailed studies on the structure-property relationships in LC networks.
  • The findings contribute to the scientific understanding and technological application of liquid crystal gels.