Integrated manufacturing of REciclable multi-material COmposites for the TRANSport sector

Hydrogel actuators have potential applications in many fields because of their multiple responsiveness to environmental stimuli. However, it is still very challenging to design a hydrogel actuator with simple preparation, fast response, and good mechanical properties. In this work, a facile and convenient method to obtain a fast responsive hydrogel actuator has been successfully developed by embedding uniform inorganic particles into Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel network to form an asymmetric structure. By controlling the types and contents of inorganic particles, a wide range of adjustable actuation property can be achieved. At the same time, the introduction of inorganic particles greatly increases the mechanical properties of hydrogels, which is also very important for actuation performance improvement of hydrogel actuators. The optimized hydrogel exhibits relatively fast bending deformation under thermal stimulation (60 ?), with a bending velocity of about 13.0° s?1 within first 10 s and a bending amplitude of about 328.1° within 1 min. The hydrogel can be designed to be temperature-controlled claw actuators with programmable shapes, indicating its application prospects in encapsulating, grasping, and transporting objects in water environment.

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We successfully designed and manufactured hybrid hydrogels with an asymmetric structure and improved mechanical property by adding inorganic particles to the PNIPAM hydrogel. The hybrid hydrogel with optimized SiO2 particles shows superior actuation properties due to bigger different in the swelling rates on both sides of hybrid hydrogels. The flexible and controllable deformation of the hydrogel actuator provides an inspiration for intelligent soft actuator in water environmental applications.

» Reference: 10.1007/s13233-023-00158-1

» Publication Date: 03/04/2023

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