AsianScientist (May 7, 2015) – Researchers have introduced a time element into 3D printing with their demonstration of a 4D printed smart valve that actuates in response to its surrounding water’s temperature. Their results have been published in the journal Macromolecular Rapid Communications.
Just as the extraordinary capabilities of 3D printing have begun to infiltrate industries and the family home, researchers have started to develop 3D printed materials that morph into new structures, post production, under the influence of external stimuli such as water or heat—hence the name, 4D printing. As in 3D printing, a structure is built up layer by layer into the desired shape, but these new materials are able to transform themselves from one shape into another.
Study author Professor Marc in het Panhuis from the University of Wollongong said it was the cleverness of the valve’s creation that was remarkable.
“The cool thing about it is, is it’s a working functioning device that you just pick up from the printer,” he said. “There’s no other assembly required.”
The materials scientist said the valve, a 3D printed structure, possessed actuators that are activated solely by water.
“So it’s an autonomous valve, there’s no input necessary other than water; it closes itself when it detects hot water,” he said.
Panhuis said that his group was the first to combine printing a 4D device with four different cartridges simultaneously, while using tough gels with the incorporated actuating materials. This new discovery could have application in myriad fields—medicine, construction, automation and robotics.
The article can be found at: Bakarich et al. (2015) 4D Printing With Mechanically Robust, Thermally Actuating Hydrogels.
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Source: University of Wollongong.
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