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Modular reprogrammable 3D mechanical metamaterials with unusual hygroscopic deformation modes
Yisong Bai1, Chuanbao Liu2, Yang Li1
1Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China. baiy@mater.ustb.edu.cn.
Materials Horizons
|August 1, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed reprogrammable 3D mechanical metamaterials that exhibit tunable, switchable moisture-induced deformation. These modular materials offer customized 3D hygroscopic responses for engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Polymer-based materials typically expand when absorbing water.
- Mechanical metamaterials offer unique approaches to hygroscopic deformation.
- Previous research on negative hygroscopic expansion lacked tunability and diverse deformation modes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose modular, reprogrammable 3D moisture-sensitive mechanical metamaterials.
- To achieve switchable and tunable hygroscopic deformation modes.
- To enable customized 3D deformation for specific engineering applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of metamaterials using multi-material 3D printing of bi-material curved strips and cubic nodes.
- Tuning hygroscopic expansion coefficients by adjusting geometrical parameters and spatial layouts of curved strips.
- Demonstrating reprogrammability through modular disassembly and reassembly of components.
Main Results:
- Metamaterials exhibit tunable coefficients of hygroscopic expansion, ranging from negative to positive.
- Achieved complex 3D hygroscopic deformation modes, including shear and twist, beyond homogeneous expansion.
- Successfully demonstrated switchable deformation modes via modular reconfiguration, akin to building blocks.
Conclusions:
- This work presents a novel approach for creating customized 3D hygroscopic deformation using modular, 3D-printed metamaterials.
- The developed materials are reprogrammable, allowing for versatile adaptation to different engineering needs.
- Potential applications include stress mitigation, shape-morphing structures, and smart actuators.
