Clever camouflage
A team of Rutgers University engineers has created a stretchy, 3D-printed material that can change color on demand – an exotic material that can lead to a whole new kind of military camouflage.
As set out in a new study published in the journal ACS applied materials and interfaces this month, the smart gels are inspired by the color-changing skin of squid, octopuses and squid.
“Electronic screens are everywhere and despite remarkable advances, such as getting thinner, bigger and brighter, they are based on solid materials, which limits the shapes they can take and how they interact with 3D surfaces,” said senior author Howon Lee, assistant professor Rutgers, said in a statement.
“Our research supports a new engineering approach with camouflage that can be added to soft materials and create flexible, colorful exhibits,” he added.
Stretchable pants
Despite the fact that they hold a lot of water, hydrocarbons can retain their shape and maintain a solid state. They are abundant in nature and can even found in the human body.
To create the camouflage material, the engineers incorporated a light-sensing nanomaterial into the shape-shifting gel and turned it into a flexible, camouflage-like skin. As a result, the gel can act as an ‘artificial muscle’ that can respond to light changes by contracting.
The team now wants to increase the sensitivity of their smart gel and ways to scale up production.
READ MORE: 3D-printed smart gel changes shape when exposed to light [Rutgers]
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