US Patent:
20160313607, Oct 27, 2016
Inventors:
- Wright-Patterson AFB OH, US
Taylor H. Ware - Beavercreek OH, US
Michael E. McConney - Beavercreek OH, US
Vincent P. Tondiglia - Dayton OH, US
Benjamin A. Kowalski - Dayton OH, US
Assignee:
Government of the United States as Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force - Wright-Patterson AFB OH
International Classification:
G02F 1/1337
C09K 19/38
Abstract:
A method of making a shape-programmable liquid crystal elastomer. The method includes preparing an alignment cell having a surface programmed with a plurality of domains. A cavity of the alignment cell is filled with a monomer solution. The monomers of the monomer solution are configured to align to the surface of the alignment cell. The aligned monomers are polymerized by Michael Addition. The polymerized monomers are then cross-linked to form a cross-linked liquid crystal elastomer. The cross-linking traps monomer alignment into a plurality of voxels with each voxel having a director orientation.