Active Microstructured Polymer Systems
Abstract
This project has been focused on developing new materials chemistry and fundamental understanding that enables fabrication of new classes of micro-patterned polymer constructs containing stimuli-responsive elements. This opens the door to materials that can, for example, undergo controlled shape morphing, exhibit motility in response to a driving stimulus, or adapt their material properties in response to environmental cues. The project was highly successful, leading to 13 peer-reviewed publications, including in high impact journals. Major achievements included: (i) improved fundamental understanding of UV-crosslinking of copolymers containing benzophenone units, enabling development of a diverse library of photo-patternable polymer and nanocomposite materials, (ii) methods to fabricate responsive hydrogel films with precisely targeted three-dimensional shapes based on in-plane patterns of swelling, (iii) a simple new approach to characterize mechanical properties of soft and flexible polymer films, and (iv) continuously reprogrammable materials capable of rapidly shifting between a nearly arbitrary number of different programmed 3D shapes over time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1053388
Entities
People
- Ryan C Hayward
Organizations
- University of Massachusetts Amherst