Artificial muscles lift 5,000 times their weight

When stretched or deformed, shape memory polymers return to their original shape under

exposure to heat or light.Such materials are in demand in soft robotics and smart biomedical devices. The problem is that until now they have not been able to accumulate enough energy.

Scientists at Stanford University decidedproblem by developing a new type of shape memory polymer. It stretches to a stable, highly elongated state, which allows it to release a large amount of energy when it returns to its original shape.

ACS Central Science

During testing, the polymer was stretched up to five timesstronger and accumulated up to 17.9 J/g of energy. It also turns out that the stretched material, when heated, can use energy to lift a load that is 5,000 times its own weight.

The scientists also made an artificial muscle by attaching a pre-stretched polymer to the arm of a wooden mannequin. When heated, the material contracted, causing the mannequin to bend its arm at the elbow. 

Bao and her team emphasize that the polymer is inexpensive at just $ 11 per pound (RUB 800 per 0.4 kg).

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