This article may be too technical for most readers to understand.(May 2017) |
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are slightly crosslinked liquid crystalline polymer networks. These materials combine the entropy elasticity of an elastomer with the self-organization of the liquid crystalline phase. In liquid crystalline elastomers, the mesogens can either be part of the polymer chain (main-chain liquid crystalline elastomers) or are attached via an alkyl spacer (side-chain liquid crystalline elastomers).[1]
Due to their actuation properties, liquid crystalline elastomers are attractive candidates for the use as artificial muscles or microrobots.