Researchers at the MISIS University of Science and Technology (Moscow) have created a new magnetically sensitive polymer composite material promising for 4D printing, which can be used in medicine and other high-tech industries. The compound consists of polylactide (polylactic acid, PMK) and cobalt ferrite and has no harmful effects on the body, according to a press release from MISIS.
With 4D technology, as well as 3D, the material is printed layer by layer. The difference of 4D-printing is that the finished object starts to change over time under the influence of heat or light, and can be pre-programmed to a certain shape. For example, the compound developed by the researchers has the ability to heat up quickly under the influence of a high-frequency alternating magnetic field and recover its shape well after deformation due to the shape memory effect. The composite’s shape recovery coefficient is more than 84%.
«Polymers with shape memory effect are gaining popularity in the development of medical devices for minimally invasive surgical procedures. For example, through a small incision, a compressed medical device can be introduced into a living system, which is further transformed into a given shape under the influence of a trigger, such as temperature,» said Fedor Senatov, director of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at NITU MISIS.