US 12,723,197 B2 · Three-dimensional helical-artificial-fibrous-muscle structured tubular soft actuator, manufacturing method therefor and application thereof

Abstract

Provided is a three-dimensional (3D) helical-artificial-fibrous-muscle structured tubular soft actuator (HAFMS-TSA), a manufacturing method therefor and an application thereof. Fibrous liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) oligomers with weak crosslinked networks formed through chemical crosslinking reactions are mechanically oriented and stretched. The stretched fibrous LCE oligomers are winded onto a 3D mandrel for secondary assembly, then a 3D helical fibrous architecture is obtained, and the contacted fibrous LCE oligomers are bonded through chemical crosslinking reactions. The 3D helical tubular soft actuator is obtained after removing the mandrel. Multimodal reversible deformations of the 3D HAFMS-TSA upon external stimuli can be achieved by adjusting and controlling winding angles, formulations of liquid crystal materials and stretching ratios of the fibers. Advantages of well-defined degrees of design freedom and programmable-adaptive 3D deformations are achieved. The technology has wide application prospects in the fields of interactive soft robots, soft pumps, artificial muscles, bionic intelligent systems, etc.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A three-dimensional (3D) helical-artificial-fibrous-muscle structured tubular soft actuator (HAFMS-TSA), having a 3D helical fibrous architecture formed by tightly winding fibers, wherein the fibers are obtained by directionally arranging liquid crystal (LC) mesogens in a direction of an external force by mechanically stretching fibrous liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) oligomers that are formed by LC monomers but not completely crosslinked, the fibrous LCE oligomers have weak crosslinked networks formed through chemical crosslinking reactions,

the stretched fibers are winded onto a mold under action of an external force, such that the fibers come into contact with each other and further crosslinked, an orientation of the LC mesogens in the fibers is fixed in a further crosslinking process, the contacted fibers are self-bonded by chemical bonds, and a HAFMS-TSA with the LC mesogens directionally arranged is obtained after the mold is removed;
and
wherein the LCE oligomers undergo a first partial crosslinking to form a stretchable fibrous precursor, a second chemical crosslinking upon winding, and a third further crosslinking to complete self-bonding between contacted fibers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Three-dimensional helical-artificial-fibrous-muscle structured tubular soft actuator, manufacturing method therefor and application thereof

Life of this patent

Three-dimensional helical-artificial-fibrous-muscle structured tubular soft actuator, manufacturing method therefor and application thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6