Australian researchers have succeeded in creating both soft and hard objects through 3D printing by integrating metal nanoparticles into polymers. They hope the discovery will enable the creation of high-precision robotic grippers and new medical devices.
What if 3D printing made it possible to create objects that mimic the properties of animal muscles? In an article published in the journal Advanced contentResearchers from the University of Queensland in Australia have conducted a new study. ContentContent Based on PolymerPolymer And of metalmetal liquidliquid which can be used to print both hard and soft objects.
The material under discussion is a comprehensive one. GalliumGalliumPolymer, in other words the polymer used for 3D printing in which they combined hard gallium nanorods and soft spherical nanoparticles of liquid metal. This makes it possible to mimic animal bone and muscle networks on a nanoscopic scale, reproducing their strength and flexibility. The compound can be used for 3D printing and can create objects that can deform when exposed to light. The heatThe heat or the lightthe light InfraredInfraredwhich then hardens and retains its new shape.
Soft robots are capable of fluid and complex movements.
For researchers, this polymer blend, which is both hard and soft, has the potential to revolutionize the field of soft materials. HybridHybrid and accelerate innovation in the field of soft robotics. This will make it possible to create hybrid soft robots by combining soft and hard components.
This material can be used to create high-precision robotic grippers and bio-inspired motors, and will enable the creation of a new generation of medical devices for hand rehabilitation. Such devices will be able to MovementsMovements Both fluid and complex. The researchers want to further improve the material’s reactive properties by increasing the ratio of metal nanoparticles.
