Researchers have created a new type of fiber that can perform like a muscle, and is better in many ways than other options available today. Most importantly, these muscle-like fibers are easy to make and recycle.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and Penn State University in Texas, USA, find that it is in many ways better than other options available today. muscle-like they created a new type of fiber.
These muscle-like fibers are easy to make and recycle, the researchers say. In a new paper, researchers say these fibers, which they initially discovered while working on another project, are more efficient, flexible, and able to handle increased tension than those available on the market today. These fibers can be used in a variety of ways, including medicine and robotics.
“It can help people with weak arms gain mobility and strength”
Robotic arms made with this type of fiber are an auxiliary tool to help people with weak arms regain movement and strength. Can be used as an exoskeleton. Another potential application, the researchers say, is with a type of self-destructing bandage that could be used in surgical procedures and degrade naturally inside the body after the wound has healed.
Robert Hickey, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at Penn State and author of the article, “Actuators are materials that will change or deform under any external stimulus, such as parts of a machine that will contract, bend or expand. And for technologies like robotics, we need to develop basically soft, lightweight versions of these materials that can act like artificial muscles. Our work really is a new way of doing that. about finding says.
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The fiber material is known as a block copolymer. To create this, it is necessary to put the polymer in a solvent and then add water. Some of the polymer is hydrophilic (absorbs water), the other part is hydrophobic (water resistant). The hydrophobic parts of the polymer group come together to protect themselves from water. creates the structure of the fiber. Then it could mimic the muscle the researchers got. fiber fibers emerge interest.
The researchers are just at the beginning of the project. Their goal is to learn more about the structural changes of the polymer, some of its actuation properties, including its energy density and velocity. improve. You can see the original article and detailed version of the research here. What are you thinking? Please do not forget to share your thoughts with us in the comments.