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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Rapid Manufacturing of Thin Soft Pneumatic Actuators and Robots

Rapid Manufacturing of Thin Soft Pneumatic Actuators and Robots

Published on: November 8, 2019

Temperature-memory polymer actuators.

Marc Behl¹, Karl Kratz, Ulrich Noechel

¹Institute of Biomaterial Science and Berlin-Brandenburg Centre for Regenerative Therapies, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, 14513 Teltow, Germany.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|July 10, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

New temperature-memory polymer actuators (TMPAs) retain thermal memory for over 250 cycles. These polymers offer adjustable actuation temperatures and bidirectional movement, enabling applications in heat engines and smart building facades.

Keywords:

active movement reversible shape-memory polymer

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Polymer Chemistry
Actuator Technology

Background:

Polymers typically lose thermal memory upon readout.
Existing actuators lack long-term thermal memory and adjustable actuation.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop temperature-memory polymer actuators (TMPAs) with persistent thermal memory.
To enable tunable, bidirectional actuation in polymers.

Main Methods:

Utilized cross-linked copolymer networks with a broad melting temperature range.
Employed a physical process to tune crystallization and actuation temperatures.
Investigated nanostructure changes using in situ X-ray diffraction.

Main Results:

Achieved over 250 cycles of thermally controlled actuation with consistent performance.
Demonstrated tunable actuation temperatures via a separation temperature (T(sep)) parameter.
Observed bidirectional actuation (elongation and contraction) linked to crystallization and melting.

Conclusions:

Developed novel TMPAs with long-term, non-volatile temperature memory.
Tunable actuation properties open possibilities for advanced smart materials.
Potential applications include adaptive heat engines and responsive building components.