Switching properties in siloxane-based liquid-crystal elastomer

Abstract EN

Mechanical and X-ray scattering measurements on a side-chain liquid-crystal elastomer based on a Siloxane backbone are presented.

The application of a stress field to the elastomer while in the nematic phase result in a stress-induced alignment of the mesogenic units in the direction of the extension.

Extensions as low as 2% result in appreciable molecular alignment.

The similarities of these effects with those observed in electric and magnetic fields are outlined.