Super metamaterials can lift a mass of 1000 times it

In material science, you should never underestimate the power of an object, although it seems very small.

Recently, a group of engineers from the University of Rochester, USA successfully built a modified polymer that responds quickly to body temperature. Notably, this new material is extremely healthy. A piece of string made of this polymer can hang 1000 times its weight.

The study results are published in the scientific journal Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics.

Time-lapse transformation process of polymers in 10 seconds, under the action of body temperature.

At first glance at this material, you can see that it can be stretched very strongly. This affects it on an external force. They cause molecules inside the material to recrystallize into chains. These chains quickly line up in the same direction, as soon as the crystals form inside the material.

Finally, the polymer completes its transformation and stabilizes its shape. This process is called "tension-induced crystallization" by researchers.

While modified polymer materials are not new, the material developed by researchers at the University of Rochester has a special property. It can respond quickly to body heat.

As soon as exposed to a temperature of about 35 ^° C, the crystals begin to "melt". The chain collapses causing the polymer to return to its original shape. You can see in the video, the polymer fiber quickly shrinks when the finger touches and exerts heat on it.

Professor Mitchell Anthamatten of Rochester University introduces new materials.

To achieve this unique property, scientists had to intervene in the molecular structure of the material . They added molecular bonds , like micro-crystals, that could not crystallize.

This component only causes the crystallization process to be inhibited without stopping it completely. A sufficient amount of links is added to turn the body temperature into a nodal point for crystallization.

When a material can transform between two states, responding to human body temperature, it is a candidate for many medical applications. For example, this new polymer material can be used for surgical, dialysis, orthopedic anchors and especially artificial skin.

In addition to applications, chemical engineering professor Mitchell Anthamatten of the University of Rochester said: "Using heat to trigger transformation is only part of the story. We also designed this material to make does mechanical work, based on its shape restoration properties ".

Polymer transformations also have potential applications in mechanics.

The structure inside this material is designed to store an elastic force. It is similar to the way a spring works when compressed or stretched. However, a spring will discharge the storage force very quickly, while new polymer materials can control the process slowly.

In tests, researchers showed results: one gram of the material could lift 1 liter of water. According to this ratio, they only need 1 kilogram of modified polymer, it can lift up to 4 adult African lions.

Right now, you can imagine the future of prosthetics with such power. Many other application directions will also be opened from the unique properties of this polymer. Obviously, engineers at Rochester University have shown us in material science, you should never underestimate the power of an object, although it seems very small.