Journal
MACROMOLECULAR SYMPOSIA
Volume 200, Issue -, Pages 81-92Publisher
WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
DOI: 10.1002/masy.200351008
Keywords
actuation; nematic elastomers; photochromes; photo-isomerization; photo-thermal strains
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Mono domain nematic elastomers change shape by as much as 400% on being heated from the nematic to isotropic state. The reason is that nematic order, Q, elongates the distribution of chains and thus the network that they form. Experimental evidence for this, and simple theory is presented. A novel method to change Q, and hence obtain an analogous elastic strain, is to bend the nematic's rods by photoisomerization. On absorbing a photon, photochromes such as azo rods leave the (straight) trans state and adopt the cis (bent) form. We show data and give simple theory to explain this remarkable, reversible elastic phenomenon.
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