Conductive materials change their properties under strain or stretching. The electrical conductivity decreases and resistance increases with stretching. TheĀ US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)Ā is working with liquid metal systems that can autonomously change the structure to become better conductors in response to strain.
Polymerized Liquid Metal Networks, the material developed by AFRL scientists, can show very odd even opposite properties while under strain. These flexible liquid-metal networks can sustain up toĀ 700%Ā of the strain from the normal stage and still, can keep the resistance virtually the same and still return to their original state. It is all possible due to the self-organized nanostructure within the material that performs these responses automatically.
This response to stretching is the exact opposite of what you would expect,
Dr. Christopher Tabor, AFRL lead research scientist on the project said.
Typically a material will increase in resistance as it is stretched simply because the current has to pass through more material. Experimenting with these liquid-metal systems and seeing the opposite response was completely unexpected and frankly unbelievable until we understood what was going on.
This new material has many applications inĀ next-generation wearableĀ electronics where the material could be combined into a long-sleeve garment. Previous stretchable electronics had a problem with transferring power through the shirt and across the body in a way that bending an elbow or rotating a shoulder would change the power transferred.
The researchers are currently working with both private companies and universities to explore further development of the circuit system. In this case, they will enable the integration of these materials intoĀ textilesĀ that can serve to monitor and augment human performance.
Read more:Ā STRETCHABLE CONDUCTORS MAINTAIN CONDUCTIVITY UNDER 700% STRAIN
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