Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2025

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction
Published on: January 19, 2016
Chain Friction and Lubrication Balanced Ultra-Tough Polyacrylates With Wide-Span Switchable Stiffness for
Guojun Zheng1, Wenjie Xiong1, Yiting Xu1
1College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Natural mollusks perform complex mechanical actions through reversible large-strain deformation and stiffness switching, which are challenging to achieve simultaneously in synthetic materials. Herein, it is shown that a set of polyacrylates designed according to a chain friction and lubrication balanced strategy shows ultra-stretchability (λ up to 324), high resilience (near 100% recovery at strain ≥ 100), and wide-span stiffness switching (up to 2073 times). The typical emulsion polymerization method and casting technique are adopted to fabricate the polyacrylate films. Quaternary ammonium surfactants are used as the emulsifier and reserved in the polymer matrix to enhance the chain segment lubrication with their long alkyl group but improve the whole chain friction through the formation of nano-eutectics. These polyacrylates undergo multimodal mechanical responses, including temperature- or time-programmed deformation and load-bearing like artificial muscles. This molecular design principle and synthetic method provide a robust platform for the fabrication of ultra-tough polymers for soft robots with multiple customized functions.
Related Concept Videos
Plastic Behavior
Relation between Poisson's ratio, Modulus of Elasticity and Modulus of Rigidity
Plastic Deformations
Plasticity
Polymer Classification: Architecture

