Article published on new magnetic shape memory composite - including cover image
Researchers from the Mesoscopic Systems and the Soft and Living Materials groups in D-MATL and at the Paul Scherrer Institute have combined forces to develop a new material that is able to retain a given shape as soon as it is placed into a magnetic field.
Unlike previous shape memory materials, this material’s memory can be switched on and off at constant temperature. Fusing the complementary expertise of these D-MATL labs, this new concept for composite materials exploits the elasticity of silicone elastomers and addressability of magnetorheological fluids. Numerous applications in medicine, aerospace, electronics, and robotics are imagined. The researchers are now publishing their results in the scientific journal Advanced Materials (link to original publication below).
Original Publication:
Magnetically Addressable Shape-Memory and Stiffening in a Composite Elastomer
P. Testa, R. W. Style, J. Cui, C. Donnelly, E. Borisova, P. M. Derlet, E. R. Dufresne, L. J. Heyderman
external pageAdvanced Materials 31, 1900561 (2019)
PSI Press Release: external pageEnglish, external pageGerman, external pageFrench
