Abstract
The structure of certain nonliving tissues determines their self-shaping and self-folding capabilities in response to a stimulus. Predetermined movements are realized according to changes in the environmental conditions due to the generated stresses of the multilayer anisotropic structure. In this study, we present bioinspired responsive anisotropic multilayer films and their fabrication process which comprises low-cost techniques. The anisotropic multilayer materials are capable of deforming their geometry caused by small temperature changes (<40 °C). The mismatch in the thermo-mechanical properties between three or more anisotropic thin layers creates responsive materials that alter their shape owing to the developed internal stresses. The movements of the material can be controlled by forming anisotropic homogenous metallic strips over an anisotropic thermoplastic layer. As a result, responsive multilayer films made of common materials can be developed to passively react to a temperature stimulus. We demonstrate the ability of the anisotropic materials to transform their geometry and we present a promising fabrication process and the thermal fatigue resistance of the developed materials. The thermal fatigue performance is strongly related to the fabrication method and the thickness of the strips. We studied the thermal fatigue performance of the materials and how the thermal cycling affects their sensitivity, as well as their failure modes and crack formation.
Highlights
Advances in materials technology have the potential to greatly affect a plethora of applications in different sectors
The thermal fatigue performance is strongly related to the fabrication method
Three different anisotropic multilayer films with a different thickness and layer sequence were tested under thermal fatigue; we investigated the types
Summary
Advances in materials technology have the potential to greatly affect a plethora of applications in different sectors. The coefficients of hygroscopic expansion are the corresponding parameters characterizing such changes in the physical dimensions of the plants’ nonliving tissues. Pine cones drastically transform their shape using only their anisotropic structure and the mismatch of the coefficients of hygroscopic expansion [1] (Figure 1A). This simple mechanism leads to the bending of the scales, which opens the cone. This system can be regarded as a hygrosensitive bilayer material [1,3]
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