Researchers Design Tougher and Stretchable Metamaterials

Metamaterials are synthetic materials that can exhibit extraordinary properties through the combination of different microscopic structures. Until now, the focus on desired properties has been primarily on stronger and more rigid structures. As a result, the final product naturally loses flexibility. Researchers at MIT have now shifted their focus to developing metamaterials that are both strong and stretchable using 3D printing.

Hydrogels were the key trigger for research into flexible metamaterials. Typically, hydrogels have a rather soft, gel-like texture, but another MIT research group developed a hydrogel that retained its soft properties while at the same time being durable. The hydrogel was created by chemically linking different polymer networks, for example, by combining a rigid and a flexible network structure. This inspired Dr. Carlos Portela, a professor at MIT, to combine network structures for metamaterials in order to create new microscopic architectures.

The structure of the material “from a distance” (Image: MIT)