Direct write printing of a self-encapsulating liquid metal-silicone composite

Silicone composites featuring inclusions of liquid metal particles are soft and stretchable materials with useful electric, dielectric, mechanical, and thermal properties. Until recently, these materials have primarily been cast as films. This work examines the possibility of using uncured liquid me...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Soft matter 2020-07, Vol.16 (28), p.668-6618
Main Authors: Neumann, Taylor V, Facchine, Emily G, Leonardo, Brian, Khan, Saad, Dickey, Michael D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Casting
Composite materials
Conductors
Dielectric properties
Elastomers
Extrusion
Inclusions
Inks
Liquid metals
Metal particles
Metals
Nozzles
Particulate composites
Rheological properties
Silicones
Thermal properties
Thermodynamic properties
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Summary:Silicone composites featuring inclusions of liquid metal particles are soft and stretchable materials with useful electric, dielectric, mechanical, and thermal properties. Until recently, these materials have primarily been cast as films. This work examines the possibility of using uncured liquid metal-elastomer (LME) composites as inks for direct writing. The liquid metal inclusions act as rheological modifiers for the silicone, forming a gel-structure that can be extruded from a nozzle and hold its shape after printing. Additionally, by tuning the particle size, larger particles in the printed structures can settle to form metal-rich regions at the bottom of the structures, encased by metal-depleted (insulating) regions. Using mechanical force, the liquid metal-rich interior can be rendered conductive by sintering without affecting the insulating exterior. Thus, it is possible to print this soft and stretchable material while creating conductors with self-insulating shells. Silicone composites featuring inclusions of liquid metal particles are soft and stretchable materials with useful electric, dielectric, mechanical, and thermal properties.
ISSN:1744-683X
1744-6848
DOI:10.1039/d0sm00803f