• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2022

In this work, we report a highly deformable covalent adaptable-liquid crystal elastomer (CA-LCE) comprising dynamic thiourea bonds that enable macromolecular network rearrangement at elevated temperatures. The exchange of chain network is verified through stress-relaxation analyses and follows Arrhenius-type behavior. The unique capability of rearranging the chain network in the CA-LCE provides useful properties, such as welding, melt reprocessing, and shape reprogramming, that cannot be achieved by the conventional LCE comprising permanent crosslinks. Reversible actuation is further demonstrated by reprogramming the polydomain CA-LCE into a monodomain via mechanical stretching at elevated temperatures.

• Prospectives of Industrial Chemistry
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.19-31
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• 2021

자극응답성 액정 엘라스토머(liquid crystal elastomer)는 하이드로겔(hydrogel), 형상 기억 고분자(shape memory polymer)와 더불어 생체 특성을 모방한 인공 근육, 소프트 액추에이터 및 소프트 로봇을 위한 스마트 소재로 최근 높은 관심을 받고 있다. 특히, 액정 엘라스토머는 고무 탄성과 액정 이방성이 결합된 비등방성 탄성 고분자로, 열, 빛, 전기 및 수분과 같은 외부자극에 반응하여 가역적이며, 액정 분자들의 배향조절을 통한 프로그램된 변형이 가능하다. 액정 엘라스토머가 개념 증명을 하는 수준을 넘어 실제로 유용한 소프트 액추에이터 및 로봇 시스템에 적용되기 위해서는 우수한 구동력 및 작업 용량, 높은 구동 변형률, 빠른 응답 시간, 낮은 구동 온도, 다양한 외부 자극반응성 및 높은 에너지 전환 효율 등을 확보하는 것이 중요하다. 본 기고문에서는 액정 엘라스토머의 개념에 대해 소개하고, 이러한 소재가 소프트 액추에이터로써 광범위하게 활용될 수 있도록 다양한 성능들을 향상시킬 수 있는 방법에 대해 소개하고자 한다.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2023

In this study, we investigate the liquid crystal (LC) alignment of LC cells created from plant-based polysaccharide derivatives, such as guar gum. Guar gum films exhibit satisfactorily high optical transparency in the visible light region (400-750 nm). For example, the transmittance of polyimide films, which are the most typically used LC alignment layers, is 87%, whereas that of guar gum films deposited onto a glass substrate at a wavelength of 550 nm is approximately 99%. The observed LC alignment depends on the rubbing depth. For example, an LC cell comprising a guar gum film fabricated via rubbing at rubbing depths of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mm exhibits a planar LC alignment, whereas it exhibits a vertical LC alignment at a rubbing depth of 0.5 mm. Additionally, the LC alignment is shown to be correlated with the total surface energy of the guar gum films. When the total surface energy of a rubbed guar gum film exceeds 58.10 mJ/m², an LC cell comprising the guar gum film exhibits a stable and vertical LC alignment. Therefore, guar gum can be used to realize the vertical alignment system of LC via a simple adjustment of the rubbing depth.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2017

Side-chain liquid crystalline polymers having polysiloxane skeletons were synthesized by a thiol-ene reaction, using two kinds of mesogenic groups: a cholesteryl group for induction into a cholesteric liquid crystal phase and a triazomesogenic group for imparting light-sensitivity. All the synthesized polymers were crystalline, except the one with a single cholesteryl group. Crystallinity, glass transition temperature, and melt transition temperature increased with increasing content of the azomesogenic group. The polymer (P-C10A0) with a single cholesteryl group has a cholesteric phase, the one (P-C0A10) with a single azomesogenic group has a smectic phase, and those with both types of mesogenic groups showed both smectic and cholesteric phases. The temperature ranges of the two liquid crystalline phases in the co-polymers were independent of the contents of the two types of mesogenic groups. The rate of photoisomerization of the light-sensitive azobenzene group in the polymer decreased with increasing azobenzene content due to steric hindrance between the azomesogenic groups.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2019

Main-chain/side-chain liquid crystalline polymers (MCSCLCPs) combined with an azobenzene group and a cholesteryl group were synthesized to impart light and temperature sensitivity to the polymer. The polymers were designed with the azobenzene unit as the mesogenic group of the main-chain and various compositions of the azobenzene and cholesteryl units as the mesogenic group of the side-chain. The chemical structures and physical properties of the synthesized polymers were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, polarized optical microscopy, and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. All the MCSCLCPs were amorphous and exhibited enantiotropic liquid crystal phases; these polymers achieved the nematic phase with increasing content of the azobenzene group and exhibited the cholesteric phase with weak liquid crystallinity as the content of the cholesteryl group was increased. Furthermore, the polymers containing the azobenzene group showed photoisomerization when exposed to UV-Vis light, and the CP-A3C7 and CP-A5C5 polymers exhibited thermochromism in the temperature range of the liquid crystal phase.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.07a
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• pp.553-557
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• 2005

The nature of the phase transition in nematic liquid crystalline elastomer is investigated using NMR and calorimetry. The balance between ordering and disordering effects of the polymer network is identified as crucial for the behavior of the order parameter near the phase transition. The change from supercritical to critical regime with adding low molecular weight liquid crystal to the elastomer is proven.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.282-291
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• 2012

Control of shape/volume, mechanical, optical, electrical, and chemical switching of materials by external stimuli such as light, temperature, pH, electric field, and pressure has attracted great attention. Among these materials, photo-responsive materials containing photochromic compounds such as azobenzene, spiropyran, and cinnamic acid groups have been the subject of intense interest in recent years. In this review, we describe the recent progress in the area of azobenzene containing polymer materials that can convert light energy into mechanical energy directly. Especially we focus our attention on light-driven actuators such as artificial muscle, motor, and valve. We summarize the photomechanical effects in liquid crystal elastomer, amorphous polymer, monolayer, and supramolecules containing azobenzene, respectively.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2016

The isothermal crystallization behaviors of blends of poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN) and a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as functions of crystallization temperature and blend composition. Avrami analyses were applied to obtain information on the crystal growth geometry and the factors controlling the rate of crystallization. The crystallization kinetics of the PEN/TLCP blends followed the Avrami equation up to a high degree of crystallization, regardless of crystallization temperature. The calculated Avrami exponents for PEN/TLCP revealed three-dimensional growth of the crystalline region in each blend. The crystallization rate of each blend increased as the crystallization temperature decreased, and decreased as the TLCP content increased. The crystallization of PEN in the blend was affected by the addition of TLCP, which acts as a nucleating agent.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.436-441
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• 2009

Semi flexible polyesters containing aromatic rings and pentamethylene groups in the main chain were synthesized by direct polycondensation reaction. The structures of these polymers were investigated by $^1H$-NMR and FT-IR and the phase transition behavior was characterized with DSC, TGA and crossed polarizing microscope. Inherent viscosities ($\eta_{inh}$) of polymers measured in phenol/p-chlorophenol/1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane were between 0.46 and 1.30 dL/g. As increasing the linearlity of rigid moieties in polyster, melting transition temperatures ($T_m$) increased and solubilities in organic solvents decreased. P-H, P-mH and P-4H of the polymers formed turbid melts that showed stir-opalescence and nematic phase at the broad anisotropic region, However, P-R, P-C and P-2B did not exhibit any textures related to the liquid crystallinity.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.212-221
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• 2005

Polyurethanes containing mesogen unit (MPU-6) were prepared from 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and 4,4'-bis(6-hydroxy hexoxy)biphenyl (BP-6) having flexible chain composed of 6 carbons. Intrinsic viscosities of MPU-6s were in the range of $0.23{\sim}0.56 dL/g$. The mesomorphic behaviors of MPU-6 were observed in X-ray and polarizing microscopy analysis. However, MPU-6s demonstrated a 'virtual liquid crystal' behavior, which did not exhibit mesophase on slow heating and slow cooling. MPU-6 having lower molecular weight exhibited higher crystallization rate and melting crystallization temperature due to increased mobility of polymer chains. The increased mobility of polymer chains facilitate the orientation of mesogen units that may act as a nucleating agent.