HYDROGEL COMPOSITE INK FORMULATION AND METHOD OF 4D PRINTING A HYDROGEL COMPOSITE STRUCTURE

摘要

A method of 4D printing comprises depositing a layer of filaments in a predetermined arrangement on a flexible substrate. Each filament comprises a hydrogel matrix and a plurality of anisotropic filler particles embedded therein. The filaments contact the flexible substrate at one or more contact regions. The layer of filaments is hydrated, and the filaments swell in size while remaining in contact with the flexible substrate at the contact regions. The flexible substrate is thereby induced to adopt a predetermined curved shape.