University of Zakho

College of science
Deparment of chemistry
Research project proposal

Liquid crystalline Elastomer

Proposal Submitted in partial fulfillment of

requirements of Zakho University for the degree of
Bachelor of Chemistry Science Department

Researcher

Arwas Murad Ezdeen

Supervised By:

Dr.Bann Dawood

2023-2024
Introduction

A liquid crystal is a thermodynamically stable phase characterized by the

anisotropy of properties without the existence of a three-dimensional crystal lattice,
existing in the temperature window between the solid (crystalline) and isotropic
(liquid) phase; therefore, liquid crystal phases are referred to as mesophases[1]. If
these phases are formed as a result of a temperature change, they are referred to as
―thermotropic‖ phases. These mesophases can also form as a result of amphiphilic
materials dispersed in an appropriate solvent—these are ―lyotropic‖ liquid crystal
phases [2].

The liquid crystal polymer is a thermoplastic polymer material with unique

structural and physical properties. It contains rigid and flexible monomers that link
to each other. When flowing in the liquid crystal state, rigid segments of the
molecules align next to one another in the direction of shear flow. Once this
orientation is formed, their direction and structure persist, even when LCP is
cooled below the melting temperature[3,4] , LCP offers a combination of electrical,
thermal, mechanical and chemical properties unmatched by other engineering
polymers. It was originally used as a high-performance thermoplastic material for
high-density printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication[5,6] and semiconductor
packaging[7].

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are a novel class of materials that combine the
properties of liquid crystals (which exhibit orientation order) with the elastic
properties of conventional elastomers[8] .As a result, they display unique and
interesting responses to a variety of external stimuli, as well as intriguing responses
to mechanical deformation, such as semi-soft elasticity, auxeticity and actuation
properties. The exceptional potential of these elastomers is constantly being
expanded on as more advanced synthesis and characterization techniques are being
developed. An interesting example is recent tensile rig developments which have
allowed the concurrent analysis of the tensile behavior and the liquid crystal
texture. The resulting insight into the strain-dependent liquid crystal director
reorientation, the mechanical properties and the birefringence (and hence the liquid
crystal order parameter), led to a re-evaluation of deformation modes that occur in
different LCE systems[9]. The exceptional properties of LCEs, such as stimuli
responsiveness and actuation, have shown them to be versatile materials for use in
a range of applications in the fields of biology and medicine, from artificial
muscles to the control of cell maturation during cell culture [10].

In 1975, de Gennes predicted the reversibility of the shape change responses of

LCEs [11].It appear are referring to the first report on Liquid crystalline elastomer A
new type of liquid crystalline material‖ by Finkelmann in 1981, LCEs have
undergone evolution in both chemistry and processing, resulting in a class of
materials with unique physical properties[12] Among these physical properties,
actuation in response to temperature change has perhaps received the most
attention. This reversible shape change can be attributed to the inherent anisotropy
of the polymer chain conformation, due to the order of mesogenic groups within
the network. In lightly cross-linked networks, this anisotropic chain conformation
is temporarily lost or reduced on heating, leading to a contraction along the
director. As the ordered phase returns in cooling, the presence of crosslinks ensures
the original ordered orientation is regained. To translate this reversible change in
chain conformation into a macroscopic actuator, the orientation of the liquid
crystal director must be controlled. There have been several methods used to attain
alignment. The most widely used alignment techniques rely on the mechanical
orientation of a gelled network or a viscous monomer solution[13].
Problem

Liquid Crystalline Elastomers (LCEs) are unique materials that combine the
properties of polymers and liquid crystals, exhibiting the ability to change their
Physical properties in response to external stimuli such as heat, light, electric, and
magnetic fields, however, several challenges exist in the study and application Of
LCEs:

 Instabilities: LCEs can exhibit instabilities under large strains, which can
impact their use in applications such as actuation, sensing, or patterning.
 Structural Complexity: The complex molecular architecture of LCEs can lead
to exceptional responses, such as large spontaneous deformations and phase
transitions. Understanding and controlling these responses is a significant
challenge.
 Manufacturing Variations: Real-world manufactured materials often have
inherent variations in their constitutive parameters, which can impact the
behavior of LCEs
 Modeling Challenges: Given the wide range of applicability of LCEs, accurate
numerical models are needed to predict their behavior under different
circumstances for different applications.
Objective

The objective of this study is to address these challenges and advance our
Understanding of LCEs. Specific goals include:

 Understanding Instabilities: Investigate the instabilities occurring in LCEs

and how they change from those found in purely elastic solids.
 Structural Analysis: Analyze the complex molecular architecture of LCEs and
its impact on their responses to external stimuli.
 Manufacturing Consistency: Study the impact of variations in manufacturing
processes Or on the behavior of LCEs.
 Model Development: Develop accurate numerical models that can predict the
behavior of LCEs under different circumstances for various applications.
 Application Exploration: Explore potential applications of LCEs in areas such
as artificial muscles, optical devices, microscopy and imaging systems,
biosensor devices, and optimization of solar energy collectors
Background

F. Brömmel and his co-workers have made significant contributions to the field of
Liquid Crystalline Elastomers (LCEs). They have provided an overview of the
chemistry involved in synthesizing LCEs and the different techniques of chemical
crosslinking developed for this purpose The unique coupling of the polymer chain
conformation and the anisotropic LC order in LCEs can be exploited to induce a
macroscopic orientation of the LC phase structure by applying mechanical fields.
By performing chemical cross-linking in the aligned state, the uniform
macroscopic orientation can be fixed permanently. Different strategies are
introduced to synthesize such liquid single crystal elastomers (LSCEs), and
illustrated by a wide range of examples. Orientation techniques based on external
magnetic and electric fields or surface treatment are also included They emphasize
practical aspects and give advice for successful preparation of this fascinating class
of materials. A promising future for LSCEs is expected because of their unique and
as yet largely unexplored abilities to mimic living systems. In conclusion, the work
of F. Brömmel and his co-workers has significantly advanced our understanding of
LCEs and has paved the way for future research in this area.
 Reference

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Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., vol. 12, pp. 617–630, 1973.

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