We report a piezoelectric effect in cholesteric liquid crystalline elastomer gels. When we apply a shear stress to a cholesteric elastomer gel in the direction perpendicular to its helical axis, a polarization can be induced in the direction perpendicular to both the stress and the helix. This experimental observation agrees with the theory proposed by Pelcovits and Meyer ͓J.

A simple but efficient method for highly sensitive Raman detection, covering a thin polydimethylsiloxane elastomer, pre-coated with a layer of Au or Ag nanoparticles, onto the detected substrate, is proposed. Moreover, this nanoparticle-coated PDMS elastomer can be used for chemical imaging with high sensitivity.

A persistent Staphylococcus epidermidis infection in mice around a subcutaneous polyvinylpyrrolidone-grafted silicon elastomer catheter (SEpvp) but not around a conventional silicon elastomer catheter was observed. With SEpvp pericatheter tissue, protracted and exaggerated interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) production was found. Apparently, sustained levels of IL-1beta are associated with enhanced su...

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM Maxillofacial prostheses are serviceable for approximately 6 months, after which they need to be refabricated because of the deterioration of color and physical properties. PURPOSE This third article in a 3-part series evaluated the color stability of commonly used colorant-elastomer combinations as a result of exposure to weathering. METHODS AND MATERIAL Fifteen specim...

dielectric elastomer actuators, [ 17 ] and memristors. [ 18 ] Liquidphase gallium–indium alloys are popular for this “microfl uidics” approach to stretchable electronics since they are nontoxic and form an oxide layer [ 19–22 ] that aids in microcontact printing, [ 23 ] electrode alignment, [ 24 ] and 3D printing. [ 25 ] Finally, a common approach to stretchable electronics is to embed thin fi ...

We study the adhesion between an elastomer of cross-link index, P, and a flat solid surface where polymer chains of polymerisation index, N, have been end-grafted. To understand the adhesive feature of such a system, one has to study both the origin of the grafted layer interdigitation with the network and the end-grafted chain extraction out of the elastomer when it separates from the solid su...

A hydrostatically coupled dielectric elastomer (HCDE) actuator consists of two membranes of a dielectric elastomer, clamped with rigid circular rings. Confined between the membranes is a fixed volume of a fluid, which couples the movements of the two membranes when a voltage or a force is applied. This paper presents a computational model of the actuator, assuming that the membranes are neo-Hoo...

Cephalopods can display dazzling patterns of colours by selectively contracting muscles to reversibly activate chromatophores--pigment-containing cells under their skins. Inspired by this novel colouring strategy found in nature, we design an electro-mechano-chemically responsive elastomer system that can exhibit a wide variety of fluorescent patterns under the control of electric fields. We co...