Highly Stretchable Flame-Retardant Skin for Soft Robotics with Hydrogel-Montmorillonite-Based Translucent Matrix

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Robotics Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Intelligent systems require robust flame-retardant coatings for high-temperature operations (300-800°C).
• Existing solutions lack conformability and resilience for dexterous tasks in extreme environments.
• Soft robots need protection for internal electronics during navigation and surveillance in fire scenes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop fire-resistant robotic mechanisms with advanced flame-retardant properties.
• To create a conformable and resilient skin for soft robots operating in high-temperature scenarios.
• To demonstrate the application of these materials in protecting electronic components and enabling locomotion in fire.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of fire-resistant robotic mechanisms using montmorillonite (MMT)-biocompatible hydrogel skin.
• Evaluation of flame retardancy through surface temperature measurements and post-fire stretchability tests.
• Assessment of material robustness via fatigue testing and application to everyday electronics.
• Deployment of shape memory alloy (SMA) actuated locomotion systems for fire environments.

Main Results:

• Achieved effective flame retardancy with surface temperatures around 78°C after 3 minutes in fire.
• Demonstrated high post-fire stretchability of approximately 360% uniaxial tensile strain.
• Confirmed material robustness with minimal energy consumption change over 200 fatigue cycles.
• Showcased protection for electronic components with low capacitance and diode light-intensity loss in fire conditions.
• Successfully deployed SMA-actuated soft robots with stable locomotion in flames.

Conclusions:

• The MMT-biocompatible hydrogel skin provides excellent flame retardancy and mechanical resilience for robotic applications in extreme heat.
• These flame-retardant soft robots can protect sensitive electronics and perform tasks in fire scenes.
• The developed technology addresses the challenge of balancing agility and endurance in high-temperature robotic systems.