Abstract
We have developed a facile method for material design of pressure-sensing films for various operating temperatures using cholesteric liquid crystalline (ChLC) cellulose derivatives. A series of acetylated hydroxypropyl celluloses (AHPCs) with different degrees of acetylation (DSAc) was prepared and their concentrated solutions in monomeric solvents showed coloration based on the selective reflection of ChLC. The critical coloration concentration of the AHPC/monomer solutions decreased with increasing DSAc because the twist angle of the cholesteric helix increased by introducing acetyl groups. The ChLC solutions were subsequently subjected to in situ polymerization to immobilize the ChLC structure in the produced composites. The ChLC structure was well immobilized in the composites with moderate compatibility between the component polymers. The obtained AHPC/polymer ChLC composites exhibited compression-induced mechanochromism, and consistent pressure sensitivity was achieved at various temperatures by selection of the counter polymer species. This approach is applicable for designing pressure-sensing films tailored to the operating temperature.
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