Alignment-Flipping Liquid-Crystal Ink Delivers 3D-Printable Programmable, Flexible Soft Actuators
Researchers from Pusan National University, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the University of Maryland have come up with a new way to 3D-print more flexible soft actuators — using a "smectic liquid-crystal elastomer (LCE) ink" capable of flipping molecular alignment during the printing process.
"Our work provides the first demonstration of switching molecular alignment between two orthogonal directions using a single 3D-printable smectic LCE ink," claims project lead Suk-kyun Ahn of the team's project, "simply by tuning the printing speed and temperature. Over the next 5–10 years, this work could help 3D-printed x-x-objects go beyond just holding a fixed shape. Instead, they could actively change shape and carry out specific functions."
A new "smectic ink" delivers programmable actuation capabilities for 3D-printed objects, chosen at the time of printing. (📷: Suk-kyun Ahn/Pusan National University)
A traditional 3D-printed object is relatively static: it's either solid or, at best, flexible when...
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