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Thermal diffusion and bending kinetics in nematic elastomer cantilever

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Abstract.

Vertically aligned monodomain nematic liquid-crystal elastomers contract when heated. If a temperature gradient is applied across the width of such a cantilever, inhomogeneous strain distribution leads to bending motion. We modelled the kinetics of thermally induced bending in the limit of a long thin strip and the predicted time variation of curvature agreed quantitatively with experimental data from samples with a range of critical indices and nematic-isotropic transition temperatures. We also deduced a value for the thermal diffusion coefficient of the elastomer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J.J. Thomson Avenue, CB3 0HE, Cambridge, UK

    K. K. Hon, D. Corbett & E. M. Terentjev

Authors
  1. K. K. Hon
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  2. D. Corbett
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  3. E. M. Terentjev
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Correspondence to E. M. Terentjev.

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Hon, K.K., Corbett, D. & Terentjev, E.M. Thermal diffusion and bending kinetics in nematic elastomer cantilever. Eur. Phys. J. E 25, 83–89 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2007-10266-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2007-10266-4

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