Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for preparing monodomain liquid crystal elastomer smart fiber

US12227879B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
0References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 11, 2023
Grant dateFeb 18, 2025
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 21, 2043

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC D)Textiles; Paper
  • CPC primaryD10B2401/046
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for preparing a monodomain liquid crystal elastomer smart fiber incudes: during cross-linking process of the liquid crystal elastomer, drawing of liquid crystal elastomer fibers with uniform diameter from a polymer solution when the viscosity of the cross-linked polymer solution increases to a point where filaments can be drawn; heating by an infrared lamp to form filamentous liquid crystal elastomer fiber; natural air drying to remove excess solvent in the fiber; and stretching and collection of the fiber, followed by placement of the fiber, whereby the monodomain liquid crystal elastomer smart fiber is obtained. The method uses a one-step liquid phase drawing method, which is simple and suitable for large-scale industrial production and enables continuous preparation of high-strength, large-deformation reversible shape memory liquid crystal elastomer fiber with uniform and controllable diameter, breaking through the limitations of the size, strength and driving performance of existing liquid crystal elastomers.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.