Novel generation of auxetic open cell foams for curved and arbitrary shapes

Abstract

We describe the manufacturing and mechanical properties of a novel class of auxetic (negative Poisson’s ratio) foams, which can assume arbitrary and complex shapes, and can be produced in large bulk quantities. Samples of sheets produced following the new manufacturing technique show a more uniform distribution of the Poisson’s ratio behaviour under tensile loading compared to classical negative Poisson’s ratio foams, and up to one order of magnitude higher energy dissipated per unit volume under cyclic tensile–tensile loading.