Color changing coaxial polymer fibers
AssigneeThe Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJeffrey G. Lundin, Matthew D. Thum, Jakub Kolacz, Daniel Ratchford
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a fiber having a sheath including a polymer and a core including a non-cholesteric liquid crystal. The sheath is transparent to visible light. The fiber may an average diameter of no more than 10 microns, and at least 90% of the fiber has a diameter within 20% of the average diameter. The sheath may include a compound capable of photoisomerization that extends into the core. The interference color of the fiber may be reversibly changed by exposure to light or a temperature change.
Claims21
A fiber comprising:
- a sheath comprising a polymer;
- wherein the sheath is transparent to visible light;
- and
- a core comprising a non-cholesteric liquid crystal;
- wherein the fiber has an average diameter of no more than 10 microns;
- and
- wherein at least 90% of the fiber has a diameter within 20% of the average diameter.
A fiber comprising:
- a sheath comprising:
- a polymer;
- and
- a compound capable of photoisomerization;
- wherein the sheath is transparent to visible light;
- and
- a core comprising a non-cholesteric liquid crystal;
- wherein the compound capable of photoisomerization extends into the core.
A method comprising:
- providing a first solution comprising:
- 15-20 wt. % of a polymer;
- 0.01-0.1 wt. % sodium chloride;
- and
- ethanol;
- providing a second solution comprising a liquid crystal;
- and
- electrospinning the first solution and the second solution to form a fiber comprising:
- a sheath comprising the polymer;
- and
- a core comprising the liquid crystal;
- wherein the electrospinning is performed at:
- 5-13 kV;
- 8-14 cm from a substrate;
- and
- no more than 20% relative humidity.
A compound having the formula:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.