Isotropic Elastomers with Mechanotropic Phase Transitions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) exhibit nonlinear mechanical behavior but suffer from slow elastic recovery and undesirable toughness, limiting their applications in fields like flexible electronics.

Innovation Solution

The development of isotropic elastomers comprising both isotropic and liquid crystal monomers, which exhibit mechanotropic phase transitions, allowing for nonlinear mechanical deformation similar to LCEs while rapidly recovering from deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are used to achieve nonlinear mechanical behavior, then the material exhibits distinctive nonlinear mechanical deformation, but the elastic recovery is slow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenonlinear mechanical deformationVSAvoidelastic recovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the elastomer's structural organization from liquid crystalline (ordered) to isotropic (disordered). This parameter change allows the material to exhibit nonlinear mechanical deformation through a different mechanism (mechananematic transition) while enabling rapid elastic recovery by eliminating the slow reorientation process inherent in LCEs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes a mechananematic phase transition in an isotropic elastomer, where mechanical stress induces a transition from an isotropic phase to a nematic-like aligned phase. This phase transition provides nonlinear deformation behavior similar to LCEs but occurs and reverses much more rapidly because it doesn't involve the slow reorientation of pre-formed liquid crystalline domains.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Shape

If liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are used to achieve nonlinear mechanical behavior, then the material exhibits distinctive nonlinear mechanical deformation, but the toughness is undesirable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenonlinear mechanical deformationVSAvoidtoughness

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the structural parameter from liquid crystalline to isotropic, the patent fundamentally alters the material's mechanical response. The isotropic elastomer achieves nonlinear deformation through mechananematic transition while maintaining superior toughness because the disordered structure allows for more uniform stress distribution and energy dissipation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of time

If isotropic elastomers with both isotropic and liquid crystal monomers are used, then rapid elastic recovery is achieved, but the complexity of material composition increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelastic recovery timeVSAvoidmaterial composition complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite elastomer system combining isotropic and liquid crystal monomers. While this does increase compositional complexity, it enables the material to exhibit mechananematic transitions with rapid recovery. The complex composition is justified by the superior performance in terms of recovery speed and toughness, and the complexity is managed through systematic variation of monomer ratios and types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Isotropic elastomers achieve rapid elastic recovery and improved toughness compared to traditional LCEs, making them suitable for applications requiring both mechanical resilience and swift deformation recovery.

Implementation Method 1

isotropic elastomers that exhibit mechanotropic phase transitions and thereby provide improved physical characteristics as compared to liquid crystal elastomers (LCE)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanotropic phase transition: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

rapidly recovering from deformation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic recovery: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12241013B2Mechanotropic elastomers

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO

AI summary

Isotropic (amorphous) elastomers and methods of preparation are described. The isotropic elastomer may include a first monomer having an alkene functionality and a second monomer having a thiol functionality. The first monomer may be a liquid crystal monomer and the second monomer may be an isotropic monomer. Unlike polydomain LCEs, the isotropic elastomers may rapidly recover after deformation and have increased toughness relative to conventional elastomers prepared from wholly isotropic precursors.