Remotely triggered morphing behavior of additively manufactured thermoset polymer-magnetic nanoparticle composite structures

Abstract

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) based systems find technological applications in diverse areas such as soft robotics, biomedical devices and aerospace structures. The shape memory (SM) response of a custom-made, additively manufactured (AM) SMP structure can be triggered by a remote, contactless AC magnetic field, resulting in morphing of the structure. We developed AM architectures based on SM thermoset polymers loaded with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Composite structures were prepared from a crosslinkable polycaprolactone dimethacrylate SMP matrix and iron oxide MNP filler. Additive manufacturing of these structures was carried out using these polymers loaded with MNP. Triggered morphing of these structures is achieved by an external alternating magnetic field; the MNP heat up, triggering the SM shape change of the polymer matrix. A variety of structures were AM by a careful choice of materials and process parameters and morphing behavior was demonstrated. This convergence of additive manufacturing technologies and structures prepared from SM thermoset polymers loaded with MNP demonstrates the feasibility of personalized, remotely triggered morphing components for advanced applications, e.g. soft robotics, biomedical devices and smart structural components in buildings.

Magnetic Nanoparticles in Biology and Medicine: Past, Present, and Future Trends

“…The magnetic separation of biological material using particles was first applied in the 1970s to sorting cells [ 116 ] and, since then, “magnetophoresis”, as it has been termed, is widely used to separate specific cells from a biofluid or trim down cell populations ( Figure 7 ) [ 117 ]. The speed and ability to batch process biological samples make magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) an especially appealing option for cell sorting in flow cytometry instruments [ 117 ].…”

“…Such concepts may find applications in areas that range from wound care to dentistry [ 136 ]. Current trends focus on increasing the magnetic sensitivity of the embedded particles as well as exploring the wide space of combined chemical and mechanical activity [ 116 , 137 , 138 ].…”

Review of Thermoresponsive Electroactive and Magnetoactive Shape Memory Polymer Nanocomposites

“…Moreover, they showed the morphing abilities of their composite material with flower-shaped and plane-shaped geometries that unfolded back to a flat position with the application of the magnetic field. Other soft robotic applications were envisioned by, for instance, Cohn et al, using their SMC of polycaprolactone dimethacrylate with 5 wt % of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles . In their published work, they showed the morphing of several structures when the material was subjected to a magnetic field (4 kA m –1 at 375 kHz) such as a self-deployable honeycomb cylinder or a spider web and the folding of a spiral.…”

“…Other soft robotic applications were envisioned by, for instance, Cohn et al, using their SMC of polycaprolactone dimethacrylate with 5 wt % of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles. 167 In their published work, they showed the morphing of several structures when the material was subjected to a magnetic field (4 kA m –1 at 375 kHz) such as a self-deployable honeycomb cylinder or a spider web and the folding of a spiral. They investigated rolling and gripping movements using their SMC.…”

Multiple/Two‐Way Shape Memory Poly(urethane‐urea‐amide) Elastomers

“…Shape memory polymers (SMPs), as a smart material, [1][2][3][4][5][6] can obtain a temporary shape through some noncovalent interactions after removal of the external force and then recover to their permanent shape in response to external stimuli [7] (such as light, [8,9] heat, [10] electricity, [11] magnetism, [12,13] solvent, [14] etc.). Lendlein and Langer reported that SMPs may be used as self-tightening sutures for minimum invasive surgery in 2002, raising much interest for SMPs in biomedical applications.…”