24-Aug-2020 | Market Research Store
Researchers are now working toward developing a blueprint of the human limb that will comprise of bone wrapped in different soft tissue like skin and muscles. The idea of developing such a sophisticated biologically inspired robotic parts using synthetic material is a huge challenge for the engineers. But, the researchers hope to build the nature's blueprint for the human limb. The team from Texas A&M University and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory has developed a class of synthetic materials that are ultra-soft and rigid. This single polymer material is 3D printable, self-healing, and recyclablethat adheres to each other under water or in air.
The study is detailed in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. The new material can be fine-tuned to get the softness of rubber and strength of load-bearing plastics. Furthermore, the self-healing and 3D printability makes it a desirable option for building realistic prosthetics and soft robotics. The researchers hope to make it the ideal option for military applications, air vehicles, and futuristic self-healing aircraft wings. The synthetic polymersconsist of elastomeric polymers that is cross-linked to make a stiffer and permanent material. Additionally, the reversible crosslinking helped create a recyclable material. The addition of furan and maleimide in the prepolymer chains helped create a stiffer material that it is not only soft but also stronger.
Interestingly, the temperature variations role in healing the material when worn and the materials use as printing ink makes it a suitable competitor for 3D-printed parts. Researchers plan to increase the functionality of the new material to help advance its stimuli to factors other than temperature. There is hope that this new material could be introduced in low-level intelligence such as autonomously adapting without the need of any user.
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