Background

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are anisoptropic polymeric materials and are also mechanotropic – meaning that when the material is subjected to an applied stress, the liquid crystal (LC) domains in the network will (re)orient themselves to the loading direction, resulting in soft elasticity where the material can manage more strain without introducing more stress to the material.

Technology Overview

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder has introduced an LC material that incorporates isotropic polydomains to create LC materials that increase the toughness by nearly 1300% relative to chemically similar elastomers prepared from completely isotropic materials (). The incorporation of polydomains in the materials means groups of the liquid crystal domains localize in bundles and lend the materials its superior toughness (). Additionally, these materials demonstrate rapid elastic recovery. The materials were prepared using thiol-ene photopolymerizations and would be great as additives to toughen photopolymers ().

Stage of Development

Proof of concept

Benefits

Increased toughness
Rapid elastic recovery
Robust elastomeric materials
Material transitions from isotropic to highly birefringent

Applications

Vehicle for optical elements (variable tint polarizers)
Additives to toughen photopolymers (i.e. Golf ball cores)
Synthetic muscle fibers

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Mechanotropic Elastomers