• CN: 11-2187/TH
  • ISSN: 0577-6686

Journal of Mechanical Engineering ›› 2021, Vol. 57 ›› Issue (7): 234-243.doi: 10.3901/JME.2021.07.234

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Study on 4D Printing of Liquid Crystal Elastomers Process and Properties

TANG Guiping1, LIU Qingping2, SONG Bo1, SHI Yusheng1   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die& Mould Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074;
    2. Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), Jilin University, Changchun 130022
  • Received:2020-04-01 Revised:2020-11-03 Online:2021-04-05 Published:2021-05-25

Abstract: Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are considered to have great potential in intelligent component manufacturing due to its large and reversible deformation, fast response, excellent mechanical properties, anisotropy and flexible driving conditions. In order to promote the forming ability of the liquid crystal elastomers and enrich the deformation mode of the liquid crystal elastomers and its design method, a method of programming the complicated deformation mode of the liquid crystal elastomers by the printing process of direct ink writing is proposed. A main-chain liquid crystal elastomer with a maximum deformation rate of 51% is prepared, and a pressure-extruded high-temperature direct ink writing equipment suitable for printing process programming is developed. The influence of the direct ink writing process on the performance of the liquid crystal elastomers is explored. It was found that the print speed had a significant effect on the deformation rate of the liquid crystal elastomers. With the increase of the print speed, the deformation rate gradually increased from 12% to the maximum deformation rate of 51.8% and then no longer changed. Additionally, the deformation rate of the liquid crystal elastomers varies between 38.3% and 51% under the control of print temperature, and the UV radiation time can increase gel fraction of the liquid crystal elastomers up to 62.2%. But the interval between printing and UV radiation has no effect on the deformation rate. Finally, the bending behavior of the liquid crystal elastomer was programmed by print speed to achieve precise control of the deformation mode and behavior of the liquid crystal elastomer, which proved the feasibility of the method of programming the complex deformation mode of the liquid crystal elastomers by the direct ink writing printing process.

Key words: liquid crystal elastomers, direct ink writing, process programming, print speed, bending deformation

CLC Number: