This work introduces multi-material liquid printing as an enabling technology for designing programmed shape-shifting silicones. The goal of this research is to provide a readily available, scalable and customized approach at producing responsive 4D printed structures for a wide range of applications. Hence, the methodology allows customization at each step of the procedure by intervening either on the material composition and/or on the design and fabrication strategies for the production of responsive components. A significant endeavour is initiated to develop and engineer two different material systems that enable shape-shifting: silicone-ethanol composites and polyvinyl siloxane swelling rubbers. The printed samples successfully comply with the expected swelling behaviour through a variety of printed test patterns.
Material agency presents a radical shift in design thinking: matter is deemed as the active generator of design. This chapter investigates the potentialities of the synergy between adaptive materials and emergent additive manufacturing techniques. In this context, 4D printing is explored as the tool that enables the material-centered design and fabrication approach. By means of this technique, it is possible to generate stimuli-responsive material systems that can enact selfadaptation of architectural constructs, responding to environmental change with a shape-shifting behaviour. Moreover, a fast, innovative, 3D printing method, Rapid Liquid Printing, allows for this process to potentially scale up to an architectural scale, as it offers the opportunity of quickly printing at large-scales with a wide array of materials, from industrial grade rubbers to responsive silicones. Keywords 4D printing • Material agency • Responsive materials • Shape shifting •
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