A substrate includes a double-network polymer system including a cross-linked, covalently-bonded polymer and a reversible, partially ionicly-bonded polymer, wherein the substrate has a moisture level less than or equal to 15 percent of the total weight of the substrate, and wherein the substrate includes a latent retractive force. A method for manufacturing a substrate includes producing a double-network hydrogel including a cross-linked, covalently-bonded polymer and a reversible, ionicly-bonded polymer; elongating by force the double-network hydrogel in at least one direction; dehydrating while still elongated the double-network hydrogel to form a substantially-dehydrated double-network polymer system; and releasing the force to produce the substrate.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a breast prosthesis, in which a first dispersion of a first granular material is introduced into a cross-linkable silicone compound. The silicone compound subsequently is cured in order to form a prosthesis body, wherein the prosthesis body is heated to a shrinking temperature which lies above the melting point of the thermoplastic material.

A substrate includes a double-network polymer system including a cross-linked, covalently-bonded polymer and a reversible, partially ionicly-bonded polymer, wherein the substrate has a moisture level less than or equal to 15 percent of the total weight of the substrate, and wherein the substrate includes a latent retractive force. A method for manufacturing a substrate includes producing a double-network hydrogel including a cross-linked, covalently-bonded polymer and a reversible, ionicly-bonded polymer; elongating by force the double-network hydrogel in at least one direction; dehydrating while still elongated the double-network hydrogel to form a substantially-dehydrated double-network polymer system; and releasing the force to produce the substrate.

Origami- and Kirigami-inspired assembly of predetermined three-dimensional forms is presented in comprehensive theoretical and experimental studies, with examples of a broad range of topologies and material compositions. The resulting engineering options in the construction of functional 3D structures have important implications for advanced microsystem technologies.

The present invention relates to a photo-responsive shape-changing structure and a driving method thereof. The photo-responsive shape-changing structure (100) is characterized in that it includes a first body portion (200) including at least one polymer film that undergoes a bending deformation in response to light irradiation, a second body portion (300) including at least one polymer film that undergoes a bending deformation in response to light irradiation, and a connection portion (400) configured to allow the first body portion (200) and the second body portion (300) to be connected to each other, wherein adhesive support portions (500, 600) are formed at one ends of the first body portion (200) and the second body portion (300), which are in contact with the ground (20).

A morphing skin for an air vehicle structure, the skin being formed by a composite material which includes: a multiplicity of fibers, a matrix incorporating the fibers, and a thermo-sensitive material, such as a thermo-plastic. The thermo-sensitive material can be reversibly transitionable in response to a change in temperature, between (i) an ambient temperature mode in which the thermo-sensitive material is capable of transferring loads in the composite material, and (ii) a heated mode in which the ability of the thermo-sensitive material to transfer the loads is reduced. This can allow the stiffness of the skin to be temporarily reduced to enable the skin to be morphed into a different shape.

A morphing skin for an air vehicle structure, the skin being formed by a composite material which includes: a multiplicity of fibers, a matrix incorporating the fibers, and a thermo-sensitive material, such as a thermo-plastic. The thermo-sensitive material can be reversibly transitionable in response to a change in temperature, between (i) an ambient temperature mode in which the thermo-sensitive material is capable of transferring loads in the composite material, and (ii) a heated mode in which the ability of the thermo-sensitive material to transfer the loads is reduced. This can allow the stiffness of the skin to be temporarily reduced to enable the skin to be morphed into a different shape.

Provided are a sequential joint behavior sheet using photo deformation and a method of controlling folding and unfolding thereof. The sequential joint behavior sheet includes at least three rigid parts, a first joint part joining two of the rigid parts that are adjacent to each other, and a second joint part joining two of the rigid parts that are adjacent to each other and spaced apart from the first joint part. Here, the first and second joint parts have a first state in which the same rigid state as the rigid parts is maintained, and a second state in which one rigid part performs a folding behavior with respect to the other rigid part of the two adjacent rigid parts between the first and second joint parts, the second state being reached when light is absorbed, and print patterns having different degrees of transparency are formed on a transparent high-molecular-weight polymer in the first and second joint parts, and thus a folding behavior is sequentially performed at the first and second joint parts due to different times taken to reach the second state through radiation of light according to degrees of transparency of the first and second joint parts.

The present invention discloses the fabrication and application of a shape memory polymer possessing transesterification-induced permanent reshaping. The ester-containing crosslinked polymer is obtained by crosslinking ester bearing polymer precursors or by reaction of monomers which yield ester bonds. The transition temperature falls between 20-150 C. The reshaping temperature is tuned by catalyst amount and should be 20 C. above the transition temperature. The breakthrough of the present invention lies in integrating shape memory effect and plastic deformation into the same polymer and triggering the respective function at different occasions. The permanent shape of as synthesized polymer could be modified arbitrarily and cumulatively. Therefore, the hierarchical structure which could not otherwise be obtained due to the limit of mold fabrication process should expand the practical application of SMPs.

A process of heat shrinking an article is provided. The process includes shaping a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) into an article, the TPV having: a partially vulcanized rubber dispersed in a continuous thermoplastic phase, wherein more than 5 wt % of the rubber is extractable in boiling xylene, and wherein the thermoplastic phase comprises a thermoplastic resin having a Tm>110 C. and a propylene-based elastomer (PBE) having a Tm<110 C.; and heating the article to a temperature between about 100 C. and 250 C. to shrink the article.