Elastocaloric effect in amorphous polymer networks undergoing mechanotropic phase transitions

作     者：J. A. Koch J. A. Herman T. J. White 

作者机构：Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering University of Colorado Boulder Boulder Colorado 80309 USA Materials Science and Engineering Program University of Colorado Boulder Boulder Colorado 80309 USA 

出 版 物：《Physical Review Materials》 (Physic. Rev. Mat.)

年 卷 期：2021年第5卷第6期

页      面：L062401-L062401页

核心收录：

基　　金：University of Colorado Boulder 

主　　题：Elastic deformation Liquid crystal phase transitions Elastomers Liquid crystals 

摘      要：Deformations of amorphous polymer networks prepared with significant concentrations of liquid crystalline mesogens have been recently reported to undergo mechanotropic phase transitions. Here, we report that mechanotropic phase transitions are accompanied by an elastocaloric response (ΔT=2.9 K). Applied uniaxial strain to the elastomeric polymer network transitions the organization of the material from a disordered, amorphous state (order parameter Q=0) to the nematic phase (Q=0.47). Both the magnitude of the elastocaloric temperature change and the mechanically induced order parameter are dependent on the concentration of liquid crystal mesogens in the material.