Robust liquid crystal semi-interpenetrating polymer network with superior energy-dissipation performance
Zhijun Yang, Yang Yang, Huan Liang, Enjian He, Hongtu Xu, Yawen Liu, Yixuan Wang, Yen Wei, Yan Ji
Abstract
Liquid crystal networks (LCN) have attracted surging interest as extraordinary energy-dissipation materials owning to their unique dissipation mechanism based on the re-orientation of mesogens. However, how to integrate high Young’s modulus, good dissipation efficiency and wide effective damping temperature range in energy-dissipation LCN remains a challenge. Here, we report a strategy to resolve this challenge by fabricating robust energy-dissipation liquid crystal semi-interpenetrating polymer network (LC-semi-IPN) consisting crystalline LC polymers (c-LCP). LC-semi-IPN demonstrates a superior synergistic performance in both mechanical and energy-dissipation properties, surpassing all currently reported LCNs. The crystallinity of c-LCP endows LC-semi-IPN with a substantial leap in Young’s modulus (1800% higher than single network). The chain reptation of c-LCP also promotes an enhanced dissipation efficiency of LC-semi-IPN by 200%. Moreover, its effective damping temperature reaches up to 130 °C, which is the widest reported for LCNs. By leveraging its exceptional synergistic performance, LC-semi-IPN can be further utilized as a functional architected structure with exceptional energy-dissipation density and deformation-resistance. The design of liquid crystal networks as energy dissipation materials achieving simultaneously good mechanical and energy dissipation properties is challenging. Here, the authors fabricate energy-dissipation liquid crystal semi-interpenetrating polymer networks consisting liquid crystalline polymers with synergistic properties.