Fabrication of triblock liquid crystal elastomer by holography

The preparation method of triblock Liquid Crystal(LC) elastomer films with thermal induced contraction was researched and their polarized characteristics and thermal induced contrasction rates were analyzed.By using the holographic exposure technology,a liquid crystal elastomer with a grid-like structure was prepared.Based on a polarization microscope and a He-Ne laser,grid-like structure and polarization were detected,respectively.The relationship between the LC molecular alignment and the polarization of LC elastomer was analyzed.In addition,the thermal induced contraction rate for LC elastomer was tested.The experimental results indicate that LC molecules are arranged perpendicular to grid-like structure.The deformation rate of thermal induced contraction for the liquid crystal elastomer can be achieved 12% in the LC phase transition temperature(65-80℃).