Programmable nanocomposites
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsTyler C Guin, Timothy J. White
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Abstract
A shape-programmable liquid crystal elastomer. The elastomer comprising cross-linked and polymerized nematic, isotropic monomers with carbon nanotubes that are organized into a plurality of voxels. Each voxel has a director orientation such that each voxel of the plurality has a first state according to the director orientation and a second state according to cross-linkages of the polymerized nematic monomers. The elastomer transitions between the first and second states with exposure to an electric field.
Claims15
A shape-programmable liquid crystal elastomer comprising:
- cross-linked and polymerized nematic, isotropic monomers with nanotubes organized into a plurality of voxels, each voxel of the plurality having a director orientation such that each voxel of the plurality has a first state according to the director orientation and a second state according to cross-linkages of the polymerized nematic monomers,
- wherein the elastomer transitions between the first and second states with exposure to an electric field, and a nanotube content ranges from 0.02 wt % to 1.0 wt %.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.