Lignin-liquid crystalline elastomeric composites for shape memory applications and their thermomechanical properties

Abstract

Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are stimuli-responsive materials with potential use in shape memory appli-cations. Though particularly suited for shape memory, the LCEs however have some drawbacks such as low shape fixity (Rf) and slow recovery time. To overcome these limitations, new lignin-filled elastomeric liquid crystalline (ELC) composite materials were fabricated. The lignin used is a by-product of Kraft pulping process, which was obtained from renewable resources abundant in nature. Here, we show that the aromatic structure of lignin increases the netpoints density at the micro-scopic level in the ELC composite systems. Shape memory effects are enhanced by incorporating up to on..