Colloquium: Prof. Helen Gleeson
Physics Colloquium Lecture
April 14, 2021
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Host: Prof. James Unwin
Prof. Helen Gleeson OBE
University of Leeds, UK
Title:
From cat skin to submarines –soft materials that are a bit of a stretch.
Abstract:
Liquid crystals are a type of soft matter perhaps best known for their use in displays (LCDs) and much of the research in the area over the past 30 years or so has been focused on achieving faster switching and more complex images in flat panel TVs. However, such technology is now mature and for some time now new, exciting properties of liquid crystals that might lead to rather futuristic applications have been emerging.
This talk concentrates on the physics of liquid crystal elastomers. These materials are rubbers formed from liquid crystal units that have remarkable properties because of the interaction of the polymer network with the ordered liquid crystal units. Suggested applications include artificial irises, self-cleaning surfaces for solar panels and artificial muscles. Thin films of these materials have been shown to lift many times their own weight. We recently discovered a completely new physical property in liquid crystal elastomers - auxetic behaviour – whereby the material gets thicker when stretched rather than thinner. This is a property shared with cat skin and the proposed meta-acoustic properties are of potential use in submarines. Our initial understanding of the physics of the auxetic behaviour and some potential applications are described.
The Department of Physics Colloquium will be held via Zoom
https://uic.zoom.us/j/89203804335?pwd=Nk9wdkJXcml1WjZHMks4anA5cEc3UT09
Date posted
Feb 4, 2021
Date updated
Apr 8, 2021