Extrusion printing of liquid crystal elastomers

US11780154B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education · US
• The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System · US

Inventors

• Taylor Ware · Beavercreek, US
• Cedric P. Ambulo · Plano, US
• Mohand O. Saed · Dallas, US
• Jennifer M. Boothby · Plano, US
• Julia J. Henricks · Dallas, US
• Ravi Shankar Meenakshisundaram · Aspinwall, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 23, 2021
• Grant date: Oct 10, 2023
• Expiry date: Sep 17, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B29K2105/0079
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of ink-extrusion printing an object, including providing a mixture including liquid crystal monomers and photo-catalyzing or heating the mixture to produce a liquid crystal ink. The ink is in a nematic phase. The method includes extruding the ink through a print-head orifice moving along a print direction to form an extruded film of the object. The extruded film exhibits birefringence. Also disclosed are a liquid crystal ink. The ink includes a mixture including liquid crystal monomers. The mixture when at a target printing temperature is in a nematic phase. Also disclosed is ink-extrusion-printed object. The object includes an extrusion-printed film including a nematic liquid crystal elastomer, wherein the film exhibits birefringence along an extrusion axis of the film.