Mechanical behavior of photopolymerized materials

Brighenti, Roberto; Cosma, Mattia Pancrazio

doi:10.1016/j.jmps.2021.104456

Cited by 16 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…It is worth mentioning that the micromechanical model presented in the previous sections is assumed to be adopted at the Gauss point level in the computational FE framework. The light diffusion and the heat conduction problems (namely the Beer-Lambert law [57] and the Fourier's heat conduction equation, respectively) are solved numerically, by adopting the same FE framework used for the mechanical problem, and whose equations are obtained through a weak formulation of the governing PDEs.…”

Section: Computational Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In more detail, the staggered solution procedure can be summarized as follows: (i) light diffusion problem (main unknowns: nodal light intensities). When the light intensity on the boundary is assigned in time, the light intensity within the domain is evaluated through the solution of the Beer-Lambert law (no iterations required) [57]. (ii) heat conduction problem (main unknowns: nodal temperatures).…”

Section: Computational Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multiphysics modelling of light-actuated liquid crystal elastomers

Brighenti

Cosma

2023

Proc. R. Soc. A.

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Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) represent a promising class of responsive polymers whose physical properties are peculiar to both fluids and solids. Thanks to their microscale structure made of elongated rigid molecules (mesogens)—characterized by their capability to reversibly switch from an isotropic to an ordered state—LCEs exhibit a number of remarkable physical effects, such as self-deformation and mechanical actuation triggered by external stimuli. Efficient and physics-based modelling, aimed at designing and optimizing LCE-based devices (such as artificial muscles, deployable structures, soft actuators, etc.), is a fundamental tool to quantitatively describe their mechanical behaviour in real applications. In the present study, we illustrate the multi-physics modelling of light-driven deformation of LCEs, based on the photo-thermal energy conversion. The role played by the light diffusion and heat transfer within the medium is considered and their effect on the obtainable actuation is studied through numerical simulations based on the multi-physics theory developed.

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Section: Computational Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Computational Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiphysics modelling of light-actuated liquid crystal elastomers

Brighenti

Cosma

2023

Proc. R. Soc. A.

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“…This possibility is nowadays offered by modern additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, enabling to get a precise microscale structure arrangement of the material; to this end, it is worth recalling the so-called Direct Ink Writing [55,56] or the photopolymerization (SLA) technologies, among others [57,58].…”

Section: Effect Of the Degree Of Polymerization On The Mechanics Of Lcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smart actuation of liquid crystal elastomer elements: cross-link density-controlled response

Brighenti¹,

Cosma²

2021

Smart Mater. Struct.

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Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) exhibit some remarkable physical properties, such as the reversible large mechanical deformation induced by proper environmental stimuli of different nature, such as the thermal stimulus, allowing their use as soft actuators. The unique features displayed by LCE are originated from their anisotropic microstructure characterized by the preferential orientation of the mesogen molecules embedded in the polymer network. An open issue in the design of LCEs is how to control their actuation effectiveness: the amount of mesogens molecules, how they are linked to the network, the nematic order degree, the cross-link density are some controllable parameters whose spatial distribution, in general, cannot be tuned except for the last one. In this paper, we develop a theoretical micromechanical-based framework to model and explore the effect of the network cross-link density on the mechanical actuation of LCE elements. In this context, the light-induced polymerization (photopolymerization) for obtaining the elastomers’ cross-linked network is of particular interest, being suitable for precisely tuning the cross-link density distribution within the material. This technology enables to obtain a molecular-scale architected LCEs, allowing the optimal design of the obtainable actuation. The possibility to properly set the cross-link density arrangement within the smart structural element (LCE microstructure design and optimization), represents an intriguing way to create molecular-scale engineered LCE elements having a material microstructure encoding the desired actuation capabilities.

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“…Nowadays, one of the most important and powerful strategies for the production of advanced polymer materials is photopolymerization. 1 There are many benefits of this technique, called briefly the "5E" principles and including the features: economy, efficiency, enabling, energy saving and being environmentally friendly. 2,3 The light-mediated polymerization reactions are commonly used in the production of protective and decorative coatings, such as lacquers and paints, 4,5 inks, 6 adhesives, [7][8][9] hydrogels, [10][11][12] and dental composites, 13,14 as well as in 3D printing, [15][16][17][18][19] and many others.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%