US 12,227,879 B2
Method and apparatus for preparing monodomain liquid crystal elastomer smart fiber
Ningyi Yuan, Jiangsu (CN); Xu Dong, Jiangsu (CN); Lvzhou Li, Jiangsu (CN); Jianning Ding, Jiangsu (CN); Xiaoshuang Zhou, Jiangsu (CN); and Yaoyao Jiang, Jiangsu (CN)
Assigned to Changzhou University, Changzhou (CN); Yangzhou University, Yangzhou (CN); and Yangzhou Technology Innovation Research Center for Carbon Neutrality of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou (CN)
Filed by CHANGZHOU UNIVERSITY, Jiangsu (CN); YANGZHOU UNIVERSITY, Jiangsu (CN); and YANGZHOU TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION RESEARCH CENTER FOR CARBON NEUTRALITY OF YANGZHOU UNIVERSITY, Jiangsu (CN)
Filed on Jul. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/220,471.
Application 18/220,471 is a continuation of application No. PCT/CN2022/074202, filed on Jan. 27, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 202210049200.0 (CN), filed on Jan. 17, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0003060 A1, Jan. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 67/00 (2017.01); B29C 71/04 (2006.01); B29D 99/00 (2010.01); C09K 19/06 (2006.01); C09K 19/10 (2006.01); D01D 5/12 (2006.01); D01D 5/38 (2006.01); D01F 1/09 (2006.01); D01F 1/10 (2006.01); D01F 6/96 (2006.01); D06M 10/00 (2006.01); B29C 35/08 (2006.01); B29K 105/00 (2006.01); B29K 507/04 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01); C09K 19/20 (2006.01); C09K 19/52 (2006.01)
CPC D01D 5/38 (2013.01) [B29D 99/0078 (2013.01); C09K 19/061 (2013.01); D01F 1/09 (2013.01); D01F 1/10 (2013.01); D01F 6/96 (2013.01); D06M 10/001 (2013.01); B29C 2035/0822 (2013.01); B29K 2105/0002 (2013.01); B29K 2105/0047 (2013.01); B29K 2105/0079 (2013.01); B29K 2507/04 (2013.01); B29L 2031/731 (2013.01); C09K 2019/2078 (2013.01); C09K 2019/521 (2013.01); D10B 2401/04 (2013.01); D10B 2401/041 (2013.01); D10B 2401/046 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for preparing a monodomain liquid crystal elastomer smart fiber, comprising: during crosslinking process of the liquid crystal elastomer, drawing of liquid crystal elastomer fibers with uniform diameter from a polymer solution when a viscosity of the cross-linked polymer solution increases to a point where filaments are 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,
wherein the method comprises the following operation steps:
S1: adding a liquid crystal monomer and a chain extender to a solvent, stirring and mixing the same evenly, adding a catalyst and stirring airtightly until a reaction ends, whereby a prepolymer is obtained;
S2: adding a crosslinking agent to the prepolymer obtained in step S1, mixing and stirring the same evenly, adding the catalyst again, and continuing airtight stirring to obtain a polymer solution;
S3: when the viscosity of the polymer solution obtained in step S2 increases to the point where filaments are drawn, drawing liquid crystal elastomer fibers with uniform diameter from the polymer solution, heating the fibers by irradiation with an infrared lamp, followed by continuous rotation, whereby filamentary liquid crystal elastomer fibers are continuously prepared;
S4: drying the prepared liquid crystal elastomer fibers by natural air to remove the excess solvent in the fibers, and then stretching and collecting the fibers, wherein the stretching rate is 50-90%, followed by a placement after which the monodomain liquid crystal elastomer smart fiber is obtained,
wherein the chain extender is one or more of ethylene glycol bis(3-mercaptopropionate) (GDMP), 1,4 butanediol bis(mercaptopropionate) (BDBT), ethylene glycol dimercaptoacetate (EGBMA), 3,6-dioxa-1,8-octanedithiol (EDDET), bis(2-mercaptoethyl)ether (DSH), 1,3-propanedithiol (PDT), 1,6-Hexanedithiol (HDT) and 1,10-decanedithiol (DDT), and
wherein the crosslinker is pentaerythritol tetrakis (3-mercaptopropionate) (PETMP).