Researchers create fibres that can flex like muscles
28/11/2016
Although previous attempts to create artificial muscles using nylon fibres have been successful, they have failed to mimic bending motions, such as those seen in human fingers and limbs.
The key to the new development by MIT researchers is the way the fibres are shaped and heated.
They compressed ordinary nylon fishing line to change its cross-section from round to rectangular or square. Heating one side then caused the fibre to bend in that direction. By changing the direction of the heating, they were able to produce more complex motions. These included circles and figure-eight. They believe even more complex patterns could be achieved.
The use of nylon makes the process much more inexpensive compared to previous projects trying to achieve the same goal. These have included using carbon nanotube yarns for greater longevity or shape-memory alloys that offer greater flex. The MIT researchers say their system uses cheap material and a simple manufacturing process, while still demonstrating very good longevity. They have demonstrated that the material can maintain its performance after at least 100,000 bending cycles.
Potential applications for the fibres include clothes that contract to match the contours of an individual’s body. This would reduce the number of different sizes manufacturer needs to produce, as well as improving comfort and fit. They could also be used in footwear that tightens itself when put on.
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