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Thermal, Mechanical and Magneto-Mechanical Characterization of Liquid Crystalline Elastomers Loaded with Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 February 2015

Stephany Herrera-Posada ,
Barbara O. Calcagno  and
Aldo Acevedo
Stephany Herrera-Posada
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez 00681, Puerto Rico
Barbara O. Calcagno
Affiliation:
Department of General Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez 00681, Puerto Rico
Aldo Acevedo
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez 00681, Puerto Rico
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Abstract

Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are materials that reveal unusual mechanical, optical and thermal properties due to their molecular orientability characteristic of low molar mass liquid crystals while maintaining the mechanical elasticity distinctive of rubbers. As such, they are considered smart shape-changing responsive systems. In this work, we report on the preparation of magnetic sensitized nematic LCEs using iron oxide nanoparticles with loadings of up to 0.7 wt%. The resultant thermal and mechanical properties were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, expansion/contraction experiments and extensional tests. The magnetic actuation ability was also evaluated for the neat elastomer and the composite with 0.5 wt% magnetic content, finding reversible contractions of up to 23% with the application of alternating magnetic fields (AMFs) of up to 48 kA/m at 300 kHz. Thus, we were able to demonstrate that the inclusion of magnetic nanoparticles yields LCEs with adjustable properties that can be tailored by changing the amount of particles embedded in the elastomeric matrix, which can be suitable for applications in actuation, sensing, or as smart substrates.

Keywords

compositeactuatorliquid crystal
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1718: Symposium B – Multifunctional Polymeric and Hybrid Materials , 2015 , pp. 3 - 7
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2015 

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