REPLICA MOLDING OF LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMER MICROSTRUCTURES FOR ACTIVE SURFACES

摘要

Surfaces with dynamic micro- and nanoscale textures can potentially be used to manipulate friction drag, optical reflection, thermal transport, and other properties. However, in order to realize these applications, surfaces must be made consistently over large areas, and integrated with existing laminate and skin materials for use in vehicles such as aircraft. Liquid crystal polymers are interesting candidate materials for active surfaces due to their tunable mechanical properties [1-3], anisotropic expansion upon heating [4], and opportunity for optically directed actuation [5-7]. For example, thin sheets made from stiff glassy liquid crystal network (LCN) polymers have been shown to oscillate at 30Hz with a tip displacement amplitude of 170° [8]. However, to our knowledge, miniaturization of LCN actuators in the form of surface-bound micropillars has not been demonstrated.