writer：Lu, H.; Wang, M.; Chen, X.; Lin, B.; Yang, H.*
keywords：liquid crystal elastomer
source：期刊
specific source：Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2019, 141, 14364-14369.
Issue time：2019年

Liquid crystal elastomer

(LCE) materials, which have been developed and investigated for four decades,

still lack real industrial applications. The fundamental obstacle is the modest

force of LCEs generated in the LC-to-isotropic phase transition process, which

is the most important actuation moment. Here we report an interpenetrating

liquid crystal polyurethane/polyacrylate elastomer material, consisting of one

main-chain polyurethane LCE and another liquid crystal polyacrylate thermoset

networks which are simultaneously polymerized. This two-way shape memory

material can reversibly shrink/expand under thermal stimulus, and shows ultrastrong

actuation-mechanic properties. With a maximum shrinkage ratio of 86% at 140 oC

which is beyond the LC-to-isotropic phase transition, its actuation blocking

stress, actuation work capacity, breaking strength and elastic modulus reach

2.53 MPa, 1267.7 KJ/m3, 7.9 MPa and 10.4 MPa respectively. Such a

LCE material can lift up a load 30000 times heavier than its own weight. We

hope the outstanding mechanical properties of this IPN-LCE material would pave

the way for the real industrial utilizations of LCE-based soft actuators.