3D printed heterogeneous bilayer temperature-responsive hydrogel with multi-curvature deformation

Abstract

Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogel are increasingly used in soft actuators and soft robotics due to their distinctive temperature-responsive properties. To realize the multi-curvature bending of the bilayer hydrogel, the PAM-based hydrogel with different properties is arranged in different positions of the PNIPAM based hydrogel through multi-material 3D printing technology to form different restriction areas, which in turn makes the bilayer hydrogel have different restrictions at different positions when bending and deforming. By studying the mechanical properties of different PAM-based hydrogel and the swelling properties of the hydrogel, several homogeneous passive layer bilayer hydrogel were prepared, which showed that the bending curvature of the homogeneous passive layer bilayer hydrogel has a certain relationship with the material properties and the thickness ratio between the two layers. Finally, some typical cases of heterogeneous passive layer bilayer hydrogel were fabricated to realize the multi-curvature bending deformation of bilayer hydrogel, which further broadened the application of bilayer hydrogel.