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Related Concept Videos

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

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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...
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Polymerization generates chiral centers along the entire backbone of a polymer chain. Accordingly, the stereochemistry of the substituent group has a significant effect on polymer properties. Polymers formed from monosubstituted alkene monomers feature chiral carbons at every alternate position in the polymer backbone. Relative to the predominant orientation of substituents at the adjacent chiral carbons, the polymer can exist in three different configurations: isotactic, syndiotactic, and...
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Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction
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Programmable Shape Change in Semicrystalline Liquid Crystal Elastomers.

Mahjabeen Javed1, Tyler Corazao2, Mohand O Saed3

  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|July 22, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Engineered semicrystalline liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) offer enhanced toughness and actuation strain. This innovation overcomes limitations in soft robotics and actuators, enabling greater work output.

Keywords:
actuatorcrystallizationliquid crystal elastomerspolymersstimuli-responsive

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Soft Matter Physics

Background:

  • Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are stimuli-responsive polymers known for shape-changing capabilities.
  • Their applications are often limited by modest elastic modulus and blocking stress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To engineer a semicrystalline LCE with improved mechanical properties and high actuation strain.
  • To investigate the role of semicrystallinity in enhancing LCE performance.

Main Methods:

  • Incorporation of semicrystallinity into a lightly cross-linked liquid crystalline network.
  • Utilizing directed self-assembly to program director profiles through the thickness of the LCE.
  • Characterizing phase transition temperatures and mechanical properties.

Main Results:

  • Semicrystalline LCEs exhibit enhanced toughness and high actuation strain.
  • A planarly aligned sample showed a dimension decrease to 0.42 at 250 °C.
  • Storage modulus reached 390 MPa, and contractile stress was 2.7 MPa.

Conclusions:

  • Semicrystalline LCEs present a promising material for advanced applications.
  • The combination of robust mechanical properties and high actuation strain is beneficial for soft robotics and actuators.
  • This material design overcomes previous limitations in LCE performance.