US 12,637,618 B2 · Method of manufacture of a resin

Abstract

Liquid Crystal Elastomer (LCE) fibers, an apparatus for manufacturing, and a method for using the apparatus are provided. LCE fibers formed from each of a plurality of resin recipes can undergo reversible temperature driven actuation of the fiber. Each of the resin recipes forms a fiber having a different actuation temperature. The apparatus includes: an extrusion device, a drawing bobbin, a coating basin, a collector bobbin, a first plurality of curing devices, and a second plurality of curing devices, to transform a resin recipe into a LCE fiber. In operation, the extrusion device extrudes the resin through to the first plurality of curing devices for a partial cure. Once in contact with drawing bobbin the resin is coated in a fluid, and then pull through the second plurality of curing devices for a final cure by collector bobbin, where it can be collected and post-processed.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of synthesizing a resin used for manufacturing high actuation temperature LCE fibers, the method comprising:

mixing, in a container, 60-80 wt % of a mesogen, and 0.4-1 wt % of a reaction inhibitor forming a first mixture;
baking, in an oven, the first mixture in the container until the first mixture is melted, an internal temperature of the oven being 110° C.;
mixing, into the container, 15-30 wt % of a joining molecule and 3-8 wt % of a vinyl cross-linker forming a second mixture;
baking, in the oven, the second mixture in the container until the second mixture is completely clear, or transparent, the internal temperature of the oven being 110° C.;
mixing, into the container, 1-2 wt % of a photoinitiator and 0.2-0.5 wt % of a chemical initiator forming a third mixture;
and
centrifuging, the container, for a set time period and at a set rotational speed.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of manufacture of a resin

Life of this patent

Method of manufacture of a resin

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12