Hydrogel-Textile Composites
Michael L. Rivera, Jack Forman, Scott E. Hudson, Lining Yao
Abstract
The current work examines interactions that are enabled when depositing a human-safe hydrogel onto textile substrates. These hydrogel-textile composites are water-responsive, supporting reversible actuation. To enable these interactions, we describe a fabrication process using a consumer-grade 3D printer. We show how different combinations of printed hydrogel patterns and textiles create a rich actuator design space. Finally, we show an application of this approach and discuss opportunities for future work.
Topics & Concepts
TextileFabricationActuatorMaterials scienceComposite materialProcess (computing)Work (physics)NanotechnologyComputer scienceMechanical engineeringEngineeringOperating systemPathologyAlternative medicineArtificial intelligenceMedicineInteractive and Immersive DisplaysAdvanced Materials and MechanicsInnovative Human-Technology Interaction