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Nanostructured fibers can impersonate human muscles
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/06/220603153342.htmNanostructured fibers can impersonate human muscles
Date: June 3, 2022
Source: University of Texas at Austin
Summary:
Researchers have created a new type of fiber that can perform like a muscle actuator, in many ways better than other options that exist today. And, most importantly, these muscle-like fibers are simple to make and recycle.
[....]
Date: June 3, 2022
Source: University of Texas at Austin
Summary:
Researchers have created a new type of fiber that can perform like a muscle actuator, in many ways better than other options that exist today. And, most importantly, these muscle-like fibers are simple to make and recycle.
[....]
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https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-022-01133-0
Nanostructured block copolymer muscles
Chao Lang, Elisabeth C. Lloyd, Kelly E. Matuszewski, Yifan Xu, Venkat Ganesan, Rui Huang, Manish Kumar & Robert J. Hickey
Nature Nanotechnology (2022)Cite this article
422 Accesses
88 Altmetric
Metricsdetails
Abstract
High-performance actuating materials are necessary for advances in robotics, prosthetics and smart clothing. Here we report a class of fibre actuators that combine solution-phase block copolymer self-assembly and strain-programmed crystallization. The actuators consist of highly aligned nanoscale structures with alternating crystalline and amorphous domains, resembling the ordered and striated pattern of mammalian skeletal muscle. The reported nanostructured block copolymer muscles excel in several aspects compared with current actuators, including efficiency (75.5%), actuation strain (80%) and mechanical properties (for example, strain-at-break of up to 900% and toughness of up to 121.2 MJ m−3). The fibres exhibit on/off rotary actuation with a peak rotational speed of 450 r.p.m. Furthermore, the reported fibres demonstrate multi-trigger actuation (heat and hydration), offering switchable mechanical properties and various operating modes. The versatility and recyclability of the polymer fibres, combined with the facile fabrication method, opens new avenues for creating multifunctional and recyclable actuators using block copolymers.
Chao Lang, Elisabeth C. Lloyd, Kelly E. Matuszewski, Yifan Xu, Venkat Ganesan, Rui Huang, Manish Kumar & Robert J. Hickey
Nature Nanotechnology (2022)Cite this article
422 Accesses
88 Altmetric
Metricsdetails
Abstract
High-performance actuating materials are necessary for advances in robotics, prosthetics and smart clothing. Here we report a class of fibre actuators that combine solution-phase block copolymer self-assembly and strain-programmed crystallization. The actuators consist of highly aligned nanoscale structures with alternating crystalline and amorphous domains, resembling the ordered and striated pattern of mammalian skeletal muscle. The reported nanostructured block copolymer muscles excel in several aspects compared with current actuators, including efficiency (75.5%), actuation strain (80%) and mechanical properties (for example, strain-at-break of up to 900% and toughness of up to 121.2 MJ m−3). The fibres exhibit on/off rotary actuation with a peak rotational speed of 450 r.p.m. Furthermore, the reported fibres demonstrate multi-trigger actuation (heat and hydration), offering switchable mechanical properties and various operating modes. The versatility and recyclability of the polymer fibres, combined with the facile fabrication method, opens new avenues for creating multifunctional and recyclable actuators using block copolymers.
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