3D-Printed Material Changes Texture on Command

Jun-11-15 A 3D-printed material able to be adjusted at will from smooth to bumpy could be used to guide fluids, act as camouflage, or even reduce buildup on ships’ hulls.

The team from MIT created by tunable material by placing particles of stiff polymer within a flexible material during the 3D printing process. When the material is compressed, the variations in rigidity will cause it to alter shape. The process is “geometry-driven,” with the spacing and shape of the polymer bits dictating how the material will re-shape. (For example, elongated particles could be used to create material that has friction in one direction but is smooth in another).

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[PHYS.ORG]
[GIZMODO.COM]

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