3D printed silicones have demonstrated great potential
in diverse
areas by combining the advantageous physiochemical properties of silicones
with the unparalleled design freedom of additive manufacturing. However,
their low-temperature performance, which is of particular importance
for polar and space applications, has not been addressed. Herein,
a 3D printed silicone foam with unprecedented low-temperature elasticity
is presented, which is featured with extraordinary fatigue resistance,
excellent shape recovery, and energy-absorbing capability down to
a low temperature of −60 °C after extreme compression
(an intensive load of over 66000 times its own weight). The foam is
achieved by direct writing of a phenyl silicone-based pseudoplastic
ink embedded with sodium chloride as sacrificial template. During
the water immersion process to create pores in the printed filaments,
a unique osmotic pressure-driven shape morphing strategy is also reported,
which offers an attractive alternative to traditional 4D printed hydrogels
in virtue of the favorable mechanical robustness of the silicone material.
The underlying mechanisms for shape morphing and low-temperature elasticity
are discussed in detail.
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