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Control of the Properties of Micrometer‐Sized Actuators from Liquid Crystalline Elastomers Prepared in a Microfluidic Setup
Author(s) -
Ohm Christian,
Fleischmann EvaKristina,
Kraus Isabelle,
Serra Christophe,
Zentel Rudolf
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201001178
Subject(s) - materials science , microfluidics , micrometer , elastomer , isotropy , liquid crystalline , dispersity , phase (matter) , composite material , polymerization , actuator , monomer , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , polymer , polymer chemistry , mechanical engineering , optics , chemistry , physics , electrical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
In this article new results on the preparation of monodisperse particles from a liquid crystalline elastomer in a microfluidic setup are presnted. For this, droplets from a liquid crystalline monomer are prepared in a microfluidic device and polymerized while they are flowing inside a microtube. The particles obtained by this method possess an internal orientation, which gives them actuating properties. When they are heated into the isotropic phase of the liquid crystalline material they show a reversible change in shape whereby they change their length in one direction by almost 100%. It is shown how the variation of experimental parameters during their synthesis impacts the properties of these micro‐actuators. Influence over their primal shape, the strength of their shape changing properties, their size, and their mechanical properties is demontrated. From the systematic variation of experimental parameters a deep understanding of the complex processes taking place in a flowing droplet of a liquid crystalline material is obtainted. Additionally NMR analysis and swelling experiments on these actuating materials are provided.