Soft elasticity optimises dissipation in 3D-printed liquid crystal elastomers

D. Mistry; N. A. Traugutt; B. Sanborn; R. H. Volpe; L. S. Chatham; R. Zhou; B. Song; K. Yu; K. N. Long; C. M. Yakacki

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-27013-0

Nature Communications (Nov 2021)

Soft elasticity optimises dissipation in 3D-printed liquid crystal elastomers

D. Mistry,
N. A. Traugutt,
B. Sanborn,
R. H. Volpe,
L. S. Chatham,
R. Zhou,
B. Song,
K. Yu,
K. N. Long,
C. M. Yakacki

Affiliations

D. Mistry: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Denver
N. A. Traugutt: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Denver
B. Sanborn: Materials and Failure Modeling Department, Sandia National Laboratories
R. H. Volpe: Impressio Inc., 12635 E. Montview Blvd, Suite 214
L. S. Chatham: Impressio Inc., 12635 E. Montview Blvd, Suite 214
R. Zhou: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Denver
B. Song: Materials and Failure Modeling Department, Sandia National Laboratories
K. Yu: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Denver
K. N. Long: Materials and Failure Modeling Department, Sandia National Laboratories
C. M. Yakacki: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Denver

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-27013-0
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Soft-elasticity in monodomain liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) is promising for impact-absorbing applications but due to the lack of synthetic procedures which give monodomain devices of sufficient size, impact studies on LCEs have not been performed. Here the authors use direct-ink writing to fabricate bulk monodomain LCE devices and study their compressive soft-elasticity.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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