3D printing is passe, 4D printing is here

27 Apr 2015

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After 3D printing which is gaining in popularity, scientists have moved on to 4D printing, a technique with which shape changing objects can be created.

With the extraordinary capabilities of 3D printing starting to infiltrate industry, researchers were developing 3D printed materials that morph into new structures, post production, under the influence of external stimuli such as water or heat - hence the name, 4D printing.

4D printing, too, builds up structures layer by layer into the desired shape like 3D printing, but these new materials can change their shape, much like a child's Transformer toy.

According to researchers at the University of Wollongong, the ground-breaking science promised advancement in myriad fields, including medicine, construction, automation and robotics, to name a few.

Researchers at the University of Wollongong (UOW) in Australia turned their attention to the medical field of soft robotics, manufacturing a valve that actuated in response to the temperature of the surrounding water.

According to Professor Marc in het Panhuis from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), it was the cleverness of the valve's creation that was remarkable.

He added, the cool thing about it was, it was a working functioning device that one just picked up from the printer, there was no other assembly required.

He added the valve, a 3D printed structure, came with actuators that were solely activated by water.

He added it was, therefore, an autonomous valve, there was no input necessary other than water, it closed itself when it detected hot water.

He said, the ACEs group was the first to combine printing a 4D device with four different cartridges simultaneously, while using tough gels with the incorporated actuating materials.

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