Bio-Inspired 4D Printing of Dynamic Spider Silks

Guiwei Li; Qi Tian; Wenzheng Wu; Shida Yang; Qian Wu; Yihang Zhao; Jiaqing Wang; Xueli Zhou; Kunyang Wang; Luquan Ren; Ji Zhao; Qingping Liu

doi:10.3390/polym14102069

Polymers (May 2022)

Bio-Inspired 4D Printing of Dynamic Spider Silks

Guiwei Li,
Qi Tian,
Wenzheng Wu,
Shida Yang,
Qian Wu,
Yihang Zhao,
Jiaqing Wang,
Xueli Zhou,
Kunyang Wang,
Luquan Ren,
Ji Zhao,
Qingping Liu

Affiliations

Guiwei Li: Advanced Materials Additive Manufacturing ((AM)2) Lab, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
Qi Tian: Advanced Materials Additive Manufacturing ((AM)2) Lab, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
Wenzheng Wu: Advanced Materials Additive Manufacturing ((AM)2) Lab, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
Shida Yang: Advanced Materials Additive Manufacturing ((AM)2) Lab, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
Qian Wu: Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China
Yihang Zhao: Advanced Materials Additive Manufacturing ((AM)2) Lab, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
Jiaqing Wang: Advanced Materials Additive Manufacturing ((AM)2) Lab, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
Xueli Zhou: Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China
Kunyang Wang: Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China
Luquan Ren: Advanced Materials Additive Manufacturing ((AM)2) Lab, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
Ji Zhao: Advanced Materials Additive Manufacturing ((AM)2) Lab, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
Qingping Liu: Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14102069
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 10
p. 2069

Abstract

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Spider silks exhibit excellent mechanical properties and have promising application prospects in engineering fields. Because natural spider silk fibers cannot be manufactured on a large scale, researchers have attempted to fabricate bio-inspired spider silks. However, the fabrication of bio-inspired spider silks with dynamically tunable mechanical properties and stimulation–response characteristics remains a challenge. Herein, the 4D printing of shape memory polyurethane is employed to produce dynamic bio-inspired spider silks. The bio-inspired spider silks have two types of energy-absorbing units that can be adjusted, one by means of 4D printing with predefined nodes, and the other through different stimulation methods to make the bio-inspired spider silks contract and undergo spiral deformation. The shape morphing behaviors of bio-inspired spider silks are programmed via pre-stress assemblies enabled by 4D printing. The energy-absorbing units of bio-inspired spider silks can be dynamically adjusted owing to stress release generated with the stimuli of temperature or humidity. Therefore, the mechanical properties of bio-inspired spider silks can be controlled to change dynamically. This can further help in developing applications of bio-inspired spider silks in engineering fields with dynamic changes of environment.

Published in Polymers

ISSN: 2073-4360 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers/

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