Title: Stereolithography additive manufacturing of photoaligned liquid crystal elastomers

Abstract

A method of forming a three-dimensional structure of liquid crystal (LC) elastomers includes contacting a resin layer of LC oligomers with a layer of photoalignment material, and exposing a portion of photoalignment material to light for aligning the portion of photoalignment material in a first orientation. The LC oligomers adjacent the illuminated portion of photoalignment material align to the first orientation of the illuminated portion. The portion of aligned LC oligomers of the resin layer are cured. Operations for forming additional layers include creating a relative movement of the resin layer away from the photoalignment material, contacting another resin layer with the photoalignment material, and exposing another portion of photoalignment material to light for aligning the photoalignment material in a different orientation. The LC oligomers adjacent the illuminated portion of photoalignment material align to the different orientation, and the portion of aligned LC oligomers of the resin layer are cured.

Inventors:

Moran, Bryan D.; Lee, Elaine; Krikorian, Caitlyn Christian; Bekker, Logan

Issue Date:

2023-10-24

Research Org.:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

2293779

Patent Number(s):

11794406

Application Number:

17/848,309

Assignee:

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (Livermore, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B29 - WORKING OF PLASTICS B29C - SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B29 - WORKING OF PLASTICS B29K - INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS

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B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B29 - WORKING OF PLASTICS B29C - SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS

B29C64/124 - using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified
B29C64/129 - characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B29 - WORKING OF PLASTICS B29K - INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS

B29K2105/0079 - {Liquid crystals}

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B33 - ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY B33Y - ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING

B33Y10/00 - Processes of additive manufacturing
B33Y30/00 - Apparatus for additive manufacturing
B33Y70/00 - Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing
B33Y80/00 - Products made by additive manufacturing

C - CHEMISTRY C09 - DYES C09K - MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

C09K19/52 - characterised by components which are not liquid crystals, e.g. additives {with special physical aspect
C09K2019/0448 - {the end chain group being a polymerizable end group, e.g. -Sp-P or acrylate}

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC52-07NA27344

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 06/23/2022

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English