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4D Printing of a Liquid Crystal Elastomer with a Controllable Orientation Gradient
Chun Zhang1, Xili Lu1, Guoxia Fei1
1State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Polymer Research Institute , Sichuan University , Chengdu 610065 , China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|November 7, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed a new 4D printing method for liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) using direct ink writing. This technique enables complex shapes and enhanced actuation modes beyond simple contraction or extension.
Area of Science:
- Soft Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) offer large, stimulus-responsive shape changes and can be 4D printed into complex architectures.
- Current LCE printing is limited to monomeric precursors and simple contraction/extension deformations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel 4D printing approach for LCEs overcoming current limitations.
- To achieve complex actuation modes and versatile LCE actuator fabrication.
Main Methods:
- Utilized direct ink writing (DIW) of a single-component liquid crystal polymer ink in its isotropic state.
- Imposed drawing force during extrusion to align mesogens along the printing path.
- Created an orientation gradient via a temperature gradient, fixed by photo-cross-linking.
Main Results:
- Achieved 4D printing of LCEs with controlled mesogen alignment and orientation gradients.
- Demonstrated reversible transformation from a strip to a hollow cylinder capable of lifting 600x its weight.
- Integrated bending and contraction modes for complex deformations and 2D to 3D structure transitions.
Conclusions:
- Established a new method for 4D printing versatile LCE actuators with novel actuation modes.
- Opened prospects for fabricating diverse LCE-based soft machines and devices.
- Enabled complex shape transformations and enhanced load-bearing capabilities in printed LCEs.
