Investigating the Influence of Printing Parameters on the Helical Deformation of 4D-printed Liquid Crystal Elastomer Fiber-actuators

Chun Zhang; Reyihanguli Muhetaer; Tong-Zhi Zang; Shuang Fu; Jun-Peng Cheng; Li Yang; Jian Wang; Kun Yang; Guo-Xia Fei; Qing-Yuan Wang; Xi-Li Lu; He-Sheng Xia; Yue Zhao

doi:10.1007/s10118-025-3288-8

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Investigating the Influence of Printing Parameters on the Helical Deformation of 4D-printed Liquid Crystal Elastomer Fiber-actuators

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2025-07-14

- Investigating the Influence of Printing Parameters on the Helical Deformation of 4D-printed Liquid Crystal Elastomer Fiber-actuators
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 43, Issue 4, Pages: 605-615(2025)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.Institute for Advanced Study, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
  b.National Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymer Materials, Polymer Research Institute, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
  c.Center for Molecular Science and Engineering, College of Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
  d.Département de chimie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1K 2R1, Canada
- Author bio：
  
  feiguoxia@scu.edu.cn (G.X.F.)
  wangqy@scu.edu.cn (Q.Y.W.)
  xililu@scu.edu.cn (X.L.L.)
  xiahs@scu.edu.cn (H.S.X.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-025-3288-8
  CLC：
- Received：26 November 2024，
  
  Revised：2025-01-06，
  
  Accepted：07 January 2025，
  
  Online First：24 February 2025，
  
  Published：01 April 2025
- Accepted：
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Zhang, C.; Muhetaer, R.; Zang, T. Z.; Fu, S.; Cheng, J. P.; Yang, L.; Wang, J.; Yang, K.; Fei, G. X.; Wang, Q. Y.; Lu, X. L.; Xia, H. S.; Zhao, Y. Investigating the influence of printing parameters on the helical deformation of 4D-printed liquid crystal elastomer fiber-actuators. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 605–615

Chun Zhang, Reyihanguli Muhetaer, Tong-Zhi Zang, et al. Investigating the Influence of Printing Parameters on the Helical Deformation of 4D-printed Liquid Crystal Elastomer Fiber-actuators[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2025, 43(4): 605-615.
Zhang, C.; Muhetaer, R.; Zang, T. Z.; Fu, S.; Cheng, J. P.; Yang, L.; Wang, J.; Yang, K.; Fei, G. X.; Wang, Q. Y.; Lu, X. L.; Xia, H. S.; Zhao, Y. Investigating the influence of printing parameters on the helical deformation of 4D-printed liquid crystal elastomer fiber-actuators. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 605–615 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3288-8.

Chun Zhang, Reyihanguli Muhetaer, Tong-Zhi Zang, et al. Investigating the Influence of Printing Parameters on the Helical Deformation of 4D-printed Liquid Crystal Elastomer Fiber-actuators[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2025, 43(4): 605-615. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3288-8.

摘要

The plant-tendril-inspired

biomimetic liquid crystal elastomer fiber actuators shows various helical deformations via changing their three-dimensional structures and asymmetric core-sheath configurations using 4D-printing technology. The mechanism of helical shape-morphing behaviors of the fiber actuators is revealed by finite element simulations.

Abstract

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) exhibit exceptional reversible deformation and unique physical properties owing to their order-disorder phase transition under external stimuli. Among these deformations

helical structures have attracted attention owing to their distinctive configurations and promising applications in biomimetics and microelectronics. However

the helical deformation behavior of fiber actuators is critically influenced by their morphologies and alignments; yet

the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Through a two-step aza-Michael addition reaction and direct ink writing (DIW) 4D printing technology

fiber-based LCE actuators with a core-sheath alignment structure were fabricated and exhibited reversible helical deformation upon heating. By adjusting the printing parameters

the filament number

width

thickness

and core-sheath structure of the fiber actuators can be precisely controlled

resulting in deformation behaviors

such as contraction

bending

and helical twisting. Finite element simulations were performed to investigate the deformation behaviors of the fiber actuators

providing insights into the variations in stress and strain during the shape-changing process

which can be used to explain the shape-morphing mechanism. These findings demonstrate that the precise tuning of printing parameters enables the controllable construction of LCE actuator morphology and customization of their functional properties

paving the way for advanced applications in smart fabrics

biomedical engineering

and flexible electronics.

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references

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