Flexible Sheet Research Articles

Stress relaxation and improved fracture toughness of metal bonding using flexible monolith sheets and an epoxy adhesive

AbstractWhile epoxy resins exhibit excellent mechanical and insulating properties as well as excellent stability against heat and chemicals, epoxy adhesives also have drawbacks such as brittleness and stress concentration. Rubber-based materials are often added to epoxy adhesives to increase toughness, but they are sensitive to heat and moisture, limiting their effectiveness in harsh environments. In this study, we propose a new sheet-type adhesive consisting of a conventional liquid epoxy adhesive and an epoxy monolith sheet with internal continuous pores, using the advantageous properties of the flexibility and toughness of the epoxy monolith to avoid stress concentration. We evaluated the adhesion strength for metal bonding using the sheet-type epoxy adhesives via a lap-shear tensile adhesion test at various temperatures. The total destruction energy was also estimated via a tapered double cantilever beam test. Furthermore, a heat cycle adhesion test was conducted using two types of metallic materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion to elucidate the effect of the monolith sheet on the improvement of interfacial failure induced by stress concentration.

Equilibrium States of a Liquid Bridge between Flexible Sheets.

We study the equilibrium states of a drop between flexible sheets clamped on both ends. Revisiting first the case of parallel sheets, we find multiple equilibria, which we classify in a parameter space. In solution branching diagrams, we identify hysteresis cycles and folds indicating abrupt transitions, yet not necessarily leading to channel collapse. Between nonparallel sheets, a drop can stay in equilibrium away from the ends even when the liquid is not totally wetting, which is impossible between nonparallel rigid plates. We also show that nonparallel sheets can delay or prevent collapse in comparison to straight channels, suggesting thus a mechanism that protects slender structures inside microdevices from damage by surface tension.

Kill Two Birds with One Stone: Cracking Lithography Technology for High-Performance Flexible Metallic Network Transparent Conductors and Metallic Micronano Sheets.

Flexible electronics have sparked a wide range of exciting applications, such as flexible display technologies, lighting, sensing, etc. Flexible conductors are essential components of flexible electronics and seriously affect efficiency and overall performance. Here, a facile and kill-two-birds-with-one-stone strategy of cracking lithography technology has been proposed to simultaneously fabricate two high-performance flexible conductors, flexible metallic network transparent conductors (f-NTCs) and metallic micronano sheets (MMNSs). The PET substrate flexible transparent conductors (FTCs) based on this strategy yield 88.1% transparency within the visible spectrum and a sheet resistance of 9 Ω/sq. In addition, the FTCs show exceptional mechanical stability, with the sheet resistance remaining virtually unchanged even after 6000 s of bending tests. Subsequently, the remaining MMNSs are recycled to manufacture a Ag paste, showing a very low conductive percolation threshold (∼13%) and excellent flexibility with 140% breaking elongation. After 1000 s of stretching tests, it showed excellent mechanical stability. Furthermore, flexible electroluminescent devices based on the FTCs and sensors fabricated with MMNSs both show excellent performance, demonstrating their potential wide applications in flexible electronics.

Optical sensing and nonlinear optical properties of Cr-doped MoO3/PEDOT:PSS Nanocomposites

In this study, we observed a negative UV photoresponse that switched to a positive photoresponse in Cr-doped MoO3/PEDOT:PSS nanocomposite films(NCF) prepared via drop-casting. MoO3 and Cr-doped MoO3 were synthesized using a hot oil bath co-precipitation method, combined with PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(4-styrenesulfonate)), and coated onto flexible OHP sheets. The open aperture z-scan method investigated the nonlinear optical properties of NCF on the glass substrate. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopic (SEM), UV–Vis spectroscopy, and Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR). Chromium doping caused minor changes in lattice parameters, crystalline size, and microstrain. UV spectroscopy revealed an increase in bandgap with higher Cr–MoO3 concentrations. The photoresponse of different Cr–MoO3 concentrations showed an initial current decrease under UV light, but the photoresponse became positive beyond a threshold and continued to improve. Nonlinear optical studies indicated saturable absorption in the nanocomposite. This work enhances our understanding of Cr-doped MoO3/PEDOT:PSS nanocomposites, contributing to advancements in flexible UV photodetectors and nonlinear optical applications.

Enhancing the electrochemical performance of graphite sheet electrodes for ketamine detection

Flexible graphite sheets (GS) have been a promising material for developing electrochemical sensors. In this work, we showed that the electrochemical activation protocol (+1.4 V followed by -1.0 V vs. Ag|AgCl|KCl(sat.) both at 200 s) in alkaline medium (0.5 mol l-1 NaOH) enhances the electrochemical activity of GS. Before the treatment, cyclic voltammetric profile of inner-sphere [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- redox couple at 50 mV s-1 exhibited an ill-defined voltammetric profile (ΔEp = 800 mV) while an increase in the reversibility was achieved (ΔEp = 225 mV) after the treatment. Additionally, the lower charge transfer resistance (Rct) measured by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and a higher heterogeneous electron transfer constant (k0) corroborate with the enhancement in the electrochemical performance of treated GS electrodes. The SEM images revealed an irregular pattern with number of grooves, indicating a partially surface exfoliation and AFM analysis displayed an increase in the roughness. These findings agreed with the estimation of electroactive area which increased 3-times after the treatment. As proof of concept, ketamine (KET), an anesthetic often used as drug of abuse, was determined in synthetic saliva and veterinary pharmaceutical samples using treated GS electrodes and square wave voltammetric measurements. Linear range of 5.0–100.0 µmol l-1 with a limit of detection value of 2.1 µmol l-1 was obtained for KET. Appropriate recovery values (∼105 %) for the analysis of samples were achieved.

Suppression of cracking induced by epitaxial strain relaxation using a relaxation absorber during the transfer of epitaxial thin films of anatase-type Nb:TiO2

This work developed a technique for fabricating flexible epitaxial thin films of anatase-type Nb:TiO2 (epitaxial TNO) via a transfer process. In our prior work, epitaxial TNO deposited on LaAlO3 (001) single crystal substrates was lifted off and affixed to flexible polymeric sheets. However, many cracks occurred on the surfaces of the transferred thin films, such that the conductivity of the epitaxial TNO was drastically decreased. This loss of conductivity was attributed to the interruption of current paths by the cracks. These numerous cracks were linear and in most cases were oriented either parallel to the [100]anatase∥[100]LAO direction or parallel to the [010]anatase∥[010]LAO direction (where the subscripts anatase and LAO represent the materials for each Miller index). Therefore, cracking likely occurred as a consequence of the relaxation of epitaxial strain and a return to the original axial lengths of the TNO during the transfer process. In the present work, the surface of epitaxial TNO was coated with the ductile polymer SU-8 3050 as a relaxation absorber prior to the transfer. This modified transfer process greatly reduced crack formation in the TNO such that the conductivity of the thin film was improved by two orders of magnitude. Thus, pre-coating with a ductile relaxation absorber was shown to effectively suppress the cracking of flexible epitaxial TNO.

Understanding a new wrinkling behavior of annular grooved panel during flexible free incremental sheet forming

Wrinkling behavior of sheet metal by inappropriate process parameters and the resultant variation of thickness and microstructure during incremental sheet forming (ISF) have significant impact on forming stability and geometric profile. The wrinkling-related mechanism is yet to be well understood, which make it difficult to effectively control wrinkling defects during ISF. In the present work, the wrinkling behavior and related mechanism of a typical annular grooved panel are investigated during a novel flexible free ISF process. Experiments demonstrate that during this ISF process, the sheet material sequentially undergoes 4 deformation modes: contacting state under plane strain condition, contracting state with only elastic deflection, thickening state under uniaxial compression condition, and wrinkling state where the circumferential compressive stress exceeds the critical wrinkling stress. The evolution of these deformation modes is dominantly caused by the increasing of edge contraction and circumferential stress, which are induced by the bending moment from the forming tool and auxiliary sheets. Based on the mechanism, an analytical model is developed to predict the wrinkling behavior, by which the corresponded sheet thickness, bending moment, circumferential compressive stress and critical wrinkling stress during the wrinkling process could be comprehensively calculated. Experimental results validate that the analytical model can accurately predict the wrinkling behavior under different process parameters, material properties and auxiliary sheet materials. Through microstructural characterization, numerical simulation and analytical modeling, the influence of process parameter and material property on wrinkling behavior is systematically investigated, along with the variation of sheet thickness and microstructure under different wrinkling modes. This work enhance a deep understanding of wrinkling behavior during ISF process, thereby providing effective methods for process optimization and quality improvement.

Advanced Electrospun Composites Based on Polycaprolactone Fibers Loaded with Micronized Tungsten Powders for Radiation Shielding.

Exposure to high levels of radiation can cause acute, long-term health effects, such as acute radiation syndrome, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. This is an important occupational hazard in different fields, such as the aerospace and healthcare industry, as well as a crucial burden to overcome to boost space applications and exploration. Protective bulky equipment made of heavy metals is not suitable for many advanced purporses, such as mobile devices, wearable shields, and manned spacecrafts. In the latter case, the in-space manufacturing of protective shields is highly desirable and remains an unmet need. Composites made of polymers and high atomic number fillers are potential means for radiation protection due to their low weight, good flexibility, and good processability. In the present work, we developed electrospun composites based on polycaprolactone (polymer matrix) and tungsten powder for application as shielding materials. Electrospinning is a versatile technology that is easily scalable at an industrial level and allows obtaining very lightweight, flexible sheet materials for wearables. By controlling tungsten powder size, we engineered homogeneous, stable and processable suspensions to fabricate radiation composite shielding sheets. The shielding capability was assessed by an in vivo model on prototype composite sheets containing 80 w% of W filler in a polycaprolactone (PCL) fibrous matrix by means of irradiation tests (X-rays) on mice. The obtained results are promising; as expected, the shielding effectivity of the developed composite material increases with the thickness/number of stacked layers. It is worth noting that a thin barrier consisting of 24 layers of the innovative shielding material reduces the extent of apoptosis by 1.5 times compared to the non-shielded mice.

Synergistic performance enhancement of lead-acid battery packs at low- and high-temperature conditions using flexible phase change material sheets

Thermal management of lead-acid batteries includes heat dissipation at high-temperature conditions (similar to other batteries) and thermal insulation at low-temperature conditions due to significant performance deterioration. To address this trader-off, this work proposes a thermal management solution based on flexible phase change materials (PCMs) with moderate thermal conductivity and other favourable properties including high specific heat capacity and high latent heat. A novel type of flexible PCM sheets is prepared with paraffin, olefin block copolymers (OBC) and expanded graphite using the co-melting method. The flexible PCM sheets are attached to a common type of lead-acid battery packs (12 Ah, dimensions of 151 × 98 × 97 mm) and thermal management performance is experimentally investigated at –10 °C and 40 °C as low- and high-temperature conditions, respectively, along with 25 °C as a baseline case for comparison purposes. Thermal properties of the battery packs such as temperature regulation and electric properties including charge/discharge capacities and rates are studied synchronously based on a standard high-performance battery detection facility. The results indicate that at –10 °C condition, the PCM sheet enhances thermal insulation of the battery pack and significantly promotes the service temperature during the charging processes. Compared with a benchmark pack attached with an encapsulated sheet, the charge and discharge capacities of the PCM-attached pack are improved by 3.7% and 5.9%, respectively. At 40 °C condition, phase transition of the PCM sheet restrains the temperature rise of the battery pack, with a maximum temperature decrease of 4.2 °C during the charging processes relative to the benchmark pack, and the temperature of the PCM-attached pack is maintained below 45 °C across 60% of the overall charge period. The overcharge and overdischarge have also been alleviated by 3.2% and 2.8%, respectively, and thus the running stability and service lifespan can be improved. The proposed PCM sheets with preferable thermal properties demonstrate potential to promote performance of lead-acid battery packs and such components are also expected to improve heat dissipation and thermal insulation in similar applications including building energy saving, thermal management of electronic chips and thermal regulation of electronic devices.

Mesoscale modeling of deformations and defects in thin crystalline sheets

We present a mesoscale description of deformations and defects in thin, flexible sheets with crystalline order, tackling the interplay between in-plane elasticity, out-of-plane deformation, as well as dislocation nucleation and motion. Our approach is based on the Phase-Field Crystal (PFC) model, which describes the microscopic atomic density in crystals at diffusive timescales, naturally encoding elasticity and plasticity effects. In its amplitude expansion (APFC), a coarse-grained description of the mechanical properties of crystals is achieved. We introduce surface PFC and surface APFC models in a convenient height-function formulation encoding deformation in the normal direction. This framework is proven consistent with classical aspects of strain-induced buckling, defect nucleation on deformed surfaces, and out-of-plane relaxation near dislocations. In particular, we benchmark and discuss the results of numerical simulations by looking at the continuum limit for buckling under uniaxial compression and at evidence from microscopic models for deformation at defects and defect arrangements, demonstrating the scale-bridging capabilities of the proposed framework. Results concerning the interplay between lattice distortion at dislocations and out-of-plane deformation are also illustrated by looking at the annihilation of dislocation dipoles and systems hosting many dislocations. With the novel formulation proposed here, and its assessment with established approaches, we envision applications to multiscale investigations of crystalline order on deformable surfaces.

Competition between slicing and buckling underlies the erratic nature of paper cuts.

By enabling the dissemination and storage of information, paper has been central to human culture for more than a millennium. Its use is, however, associated with a common injury: the paper cut. Surprisingly, the physics underpinning a flexible sheet of paper slicing into soft tissues remains unresolved. In particular, the unpredictable occurrence of paper cuts, often restricted to a limited thickness range, has not been explained. Here we visualize and quantify the motion, deformation, and stresses during paper cuts, uncovering a remarkably complex relationship between cutting, geometry, and material properties. A model based on the hypothesis that a competition between slicing and buckling controls the probability of initiating a paper cut is developed and successfully validated. This explains why paper with a specific thickness is most hazardous (65µm, corresponding, e.g., to dot matrix paper) and suggests a probabilistic interpretation of irregular occurrence of paper cuts. Stimulated by these findings, we finally show how a recyclable cutting tool can harness the surprising power of paper.

Flexible low-profile shield for reducing back radiation of wrist-worn antenna

A flexible conducting lossy shield is developed and demonstrated for a reduction in the back radiation of a linearly polarized X-band patch antenna for Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) applications. The proposed structure comprises a flexible patch antenna backed by a laminated sheet of Expanded Graphite (EG). This flexible sheet is prepared from EG powder pressed uniformly over a thin adhesive tape. The conducting nature of EG is exploited, and the EG sheet is used as a protective shield to prevent back radiation emanating out of the WBAN antenna from propagating toward the human body. The antenna performance is tested over human wrist phantoms experimentally and through full wave simulation studies. The results indicate the marginal variation in the −10 dB impedance bandwidth with a slight increase in the gain and directivity values for a resonant frequency in the range 9.7–10.3 GHz (bending radius variation of 40, 30, and 20 mm and along two bending planes). A measured on-body gain of 6.7 dBi is exhibited by the antenna backed by the EG shield and bent over a 20 mm radius human wrist phantom with an S11 of −19 dB, a −10 dB % bandwidth of 8%, and a directivity of 9.4 dBi. All the other bending configurations exhibit values higher than these. Electric field and Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) studies reveal a reduction in wave penetration by the EG shield antenna inside the wrist phantom with a decrease in the SAR by a maximum of 5%. The measured front-to-back ratio values indicate the lowering of back radiation with a maximum average increase of 76% exhibited by an EG backed antenna. The developed EG shield has an additional advantage of being a standalone structure, which can be integrated with any wearable antenna for a possible reduction in the back radiation.

Investigation on mechanism in fabricating truncated cone with tooth features of titanium alloy via flexible free incremental forming at room temperature

It has been a challenge to efficiently make titanium alloy thin-walled components by sheet metal forming. Incremental sheet forming (ISF) method provides a promising way to increase the formability of low-ductility metallic sheets, but making titanium alloy sheet panels still needs heating by electricity or laser. The present work investigates the deformation mechanism in fabricating truncated cones of titanium alloy with tooth features realized by flexible free incremental sheet forming (FFISF) at room temperature. Experimental investigations on auxiliary sheets and tool path selections, analytical modeling, finite element simulation, and microstructure characterization have been conducted to evaluate the deformation mechanism in terms of the geometric deviation, thickness distribution and microstructure evolution of TA2 and TC4. Results indicate that the I-O loading path coupled with an optimized auxiliary sheets selection can ensure the successful fabrication of designed panel without defects. An analytical model is proposed to predict the free edge dependent law of thickness distribution in FFISF, indicating the material thinning is positively correlated with the distance from the free edge, while the thinning rate is inversely proportional to the yield strength. A more uniform thickness of TC4 panel is obtained compared with TA2. Finally, the improved formability of titanium alloys by FFISF can be attributed to grain subdivision, decreasing of intragranular deformation, and optimization of dislocation movement.

Numerical Simulation of Forming a 3D Shape by a Multi-Point Die

Multi-point forming (MPF) is considered one of the flexible and creative three-dimensional sheet metal forming processes. Such a technique replaces traditional rigid punches with a set of adjustable-height discrete pins. By altering the relative height of each pin, a variety of three-dimensional curved surfaces can be formed. In order to avoid changing the height of the pins manually, they are attached to springs. Hence, when a load applies at the pins holder, these will take the shape of the die due to the spring properties quickly and easily. However, wrinkles and dimples are inevitable issues that appear when using MPF. In order to investigate and minimize these defects, a finite element approach using ANSYS 15.0 software has been applied to perform numerical simulations for this MPF operation. Two cases have been examined in this study. Whilst the first one includes direct forming between the pins and the metal, a sheet of rubber has been added among them in the second case. The simulation has been conducted on brass (Cu Zn 65-35) with a thickness of (0.71 mm) and rubber with a thickness of (2 mm). The boundary conditions, which are attached to the blank, enable the motion in the y-direction only with respect to the lower profile at a depth of (30) mm, and was immobilized by constraints in the x and z direction. The study has shown remarkable results since the dimples were visible on the sheet surface in the first case, whereas these defects were significantly reduced during the second one. Moreover, the blank profile’s maximum stress and strain have been studied. Due to force distribution, rubber reduces maximum stress and strain to approximately 27% and 49%, respectively, in the second case

Simulation and Experimental Approach for Metal Forming with a Multi-Point Die

Multi-point forming (MPF) is considered a flexible and innovative sheet metal forming process that allows for the creation of three-dimensional curved surfaces. This study investigates the effects of various parameters on the final product in metal forming using a multi-point die. The research employs a combination of numerical simulations and experimental work to analyze and minimize defects in the forming process. The concentration is on brass (Cu Zn 65-35) and rubber materials, with specific thicknesses of 0.71 mm and 2 mm, respectively. Although ANSYS 15.0 is used to study the stresses and strains resulting from the formation process with the multi-point die (MPD), the experimental work was conducted to study the effect of two parameters: forming speeds (5 and 15 mm/min) and holding times (1, 3, and 5 minutes were used in this process). The simulation results reveal that the use of rubber significantly reduces defects such as dimples on the sheet surface. Additionally, the presence of rubber helps distribute the force, leading to a reduction in maximum stress and strain in the blank profile to approximately 27% and 49%, respectively, in the second case. The study also explores the impact of forming speed and holding time on spring back. BY measuring the dimensional accuracy of the final products. A forming speed of 5 mm/min and a holding time of 5 minutes resulted in the best outcomes, with a minimum average spring back (0.997). Moreover, the ANOVA algorithm was used to discuss the results which indicated that the forming speed and holding time significantly affect the dimensional accuracy. The research shows that altering settings and adding rubber to multi-point forming improves product quality and accuracy. This study enhances metal forming knowledge and improves industrial processes.

Multifunctional and high‐stability RGO/PANI wrapped polyurethane foam for flexible piezoresistive sensor applications

AbstractDue to its excellent durability and steady mechanical qualities, three‐dimensional porous polyurethane foam (PUF) presents a wide range of possibilities for flexible piezoresistive sensors. Its extreme flammability, poor electrical conductivity, and susceptibility to outside factors present serious difficulties, though. In this study, a waterborne polyurethane‐coated flexible PUF sensor that incorporates reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and polyaniline (PANI) through a methodical, step‐by‐step dip‐coating methodology is successfully developed. The final product has a water contact angle of 133°, which improves its ability to adapt to a variety of environmental circumstances. Flexible graphene sheets are incorporated to improve heat resistance and flame retardancy, and PANI and RGO provide strong bonding to the PUF framework, ensuring outstanding structural stability even after 1500 cycles. The flexible foam sensor shows promise for use in flexible piezoresistive sensors and electronic skin due to its remarkable strain monitoring range of up to 70%, quick response time of 0.39 s in sensitivity experiments, and adaptability to different physical activities like walking and gesturing.

Free-space and near-wall dynamics of a flexible sheet sedimenting in Stokes flow

Free-space and near-wall dynamics of a flexible sheet sedimenting in Stokes flow

Higher-Order Structural Analysis of a Transparent and Flexible High Thermal Conductive Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Sheet and Its Composite.

Transparency, flexibility, and high thermal conductivity are trade-offs. Specifically, we have investigated a cross-linked acrylic liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) that exhibits both transparency and flexibility while maintaining a high level of thermal conductivity. The transparent monodomain LCE sheet was achieved through a process of stretching an initially opaque polydomain sheet to 80% elongation and subsequently subjecting it to photocuring. The thermal conductivity in the stretching direction (x) of the monodomain LCE sheet was found to be 1.8 times higher than that of the prestretched polydomain sheet, consistent with findings from previous studies. However, in the orthogonal direction (y) to the stretching (x) direction, the thermal conductivity exhibited an even higher value, being 1.7 times greater than in the x-direction, with a value of 3.0 W/(m·K). This unique observation prompted us to conduct further investigation through higher-order structural analysis of these LCE sheets using 2D wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) analysis. In the transparent sheet, the LCE molecules were aligned in the sheet in the stretching x-direction (monodomain structure) for the out-of-plane direction. However, in the in-plane x-direction, the molecular plane spacing exhibited random orientation at a period of 0.45 nm. In contrast, within the y-direction of the inner layer, the molecular plane spacing exhibited a uniaxial horizontal orientation at the same period length as in the x-direction. The heat energy entering into the y-direction once spreads to the x-direction, but it was considered that the reason for the higher thermal conductivity to the y-direction would be forming covalent bonds that function as new heat transmission paths, in the direction intersecting to the x-direction during photocuring. Therefore, we concluded that the synergistic effect of the high level of the ordered inner structure and covalent bonding structure due to cross-linking in the y-direction contributes to its higher thermal conductivity compared to that in the x-direction, which exhibits a random in-plane structure. Additionally, we have fabricated an LCE composite sheet filled with 75 vol % of alumina particles using a polydomain-type LCE as the base material. The composite sheet exhibits remarkable thermal conductivity in the thickness direction, measuring at 9.8 W/(m·K), while maintaining a flexibility characterized by an elastic modulus of 70 MPa. This thermal conductivity surpasses that of a nonmesogenic acrylic composite sheet with identical alumina particle filling, which measured at 3.9 W/(m·K), more than twice as much. The presence of the mesogen skeleton has been demonstrated to enhance heat transfer, even within soft composites, by facilitating the formation of an ordered structure.

Regenerated products from leather industrial solid waste: Future perspective and current advances

The removal of chrome waste (CW) has been identified as a significant environmental problem due to chromium's toxicity. This study tried to make a regenerated flexible sheet (RFS) with a leather alternative effect from chrome waste powder (CWP), cardboard waste fiber (CBWF), and protein binder (PB) fabricated by the hydraulic wet and hot press method. The prepared RFS was characterized by its High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), mechanical analysis, and biodegradation properties. The result showed the strong binding achieved with fiber/polymer membrane for RFS. In this regard, RFS with suitable mechanical properties such as tensile strength (37.54 ± 1.32 MPa), elongation at break (33.64 ± 0.52 %), flexibility (5.34 ± 0.67 %), water absorption (27.74 ± 1.56 %), and water desorption (27.46 ± 0.76 %) properties. RFS possessed the required mechanical properties for leather sheet production and it was also biodegradable. The study proves that these composites could be successfully used for the production of cost-effective leather goods and footwear production. Production of useful byproducts from waste is income generating and at the same time reduces environmental pollution and a feasible technology for waste recycling has been proved in this study.

Oscillating thermal switch using electrostatic forces

Thermal control devices such as thermal switches, thermal diodes, thermal regulators and thermal capacitors can control the intensity and direction of heat flow, which has proven useful in various thermal management applications. Their operation is analogous to that of their electrical counterparts, where temperature differences correspond to voltage differences and heat flow corresponds to electric current. Here we design and fabricate a thermal switch that controls the heat flow from the heat source by changing the thermal conductance when switching ON and OFF. The thermal switch uses electrostatic forces for actuation and makes thermal contact between the heat source and the heat sink when in the ON state, and breaks contact when in the OFF state. The thermal switch is constructed using the commercially available materials. The heat sink and heat source are made of silicon, and the active part of the heat switch is a flexible gadolinium sheet with a thickness of 161 µm. The proof-of-concept device was evaluated for a magnetocaloric application; however, the proposed thermal switch can be used in any thermal circuit for fast thermal regulation and advanced thermal control.