Modeling programmable deformation of self-folding all-polymer structures with temperature-sensitive hydrogels

Combination of soft active hydrogels with hard passive polymers gives rise to all-polymer composites. The hydrogel is sensitive to external stimuli while the passive polymer is inert. Utilizing the different behaviors of two materials subject to environmental variation, for example temperature, resu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSmart materials and structures Vol. 22; no. 11; pp. 115028 - 1-6
Main Authors Guo, Wei, Li, Meie, Zhou, Jinxiong
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Bristol IOP Publishing 01.11.2013
Institute of Physics
Subjects
Application fields
Applied sciences
Deformation
Exact sciences and technology
Polymer industry, paints, wood
Technology of polymers
Laminate
Morphology
Polymer
Hydrogel
Modeling
Composite material
Mechanism
Bilayers
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Summary:Combination of soft active hydrogels with hard passive polymers gives rise to all-polymer composites. The hydrogel is sensitive to external stimuli while the passive polymer is inert. Utilizing the different behaviors of two materials subject to environmental variation, for example temperature, results in self-folding soft machines. We report our efforts to model the programmable deformation of self-folding structures with temperature-sensitive hydrogels. The self-folding structures are realized either by constructing a bilayer structure or by incorporating hydrogels as hinges. The methodology and the results may aid the design, control and fabrication of 3D complex structures from 2D simple configurations through self-assembly.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
content type line 23
ISSN:0964-1726
1361-665X
DOI:10.1088/0964-1726/22/11/115028