Abstract
Swelling behavior and deformations of main chain liquid crystal elastomers (MCLCEs) have been reported. The swelling agent used here is a low molecular weight liquid crystal (LMWLC), 4-n-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (5CB). Monodomain MCLCE swells anisotropically with the swelling degree q mono = 11.9 and polydomain MCLCE swell isotropically in 3D with q poly = 12.1. These values are much larger than observed in swelling side-chain LCEs (SCLCEs). In the stress-strain measurement, the plateau area is found among two steep areas. The electromechanical effects of monodomain MCLCE is also observed, and the results show that the maximum contraction in ∥ is about 7%. The threshold for the onset of the electromechanical effect is about 10 V, which is larger than observed in SCLCEs.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
