A team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are taking 3D-printing to a new level with a technique called 4D-printing in order to create structures that possess the ability to change their shapes.
The goal of the research is to 3D print items that are designed to change their shape after they are printed, according to Live Science. This technology uses a wide range of materials to print out objects, such as plastic, ceramic, glass, metal, chocolate and even living cells.
Dan Raviv, mathematician at MIT and lead author of the study, says businesses are not the only ones using 3D printers, as individuals can use this technology in their own homes for less than $1,000.
"Knowing you can print almost anything, not just 2D paper, opens a window to unlimited opportunities, where toys household appliances and tools can be ordered online and manufactured in our living rooms," he said.
The team used two different materials to print structures, one that was a stiff plastic that didn't bend and another created by 3D-printing company Stratasys that could absorb water and double in volume when submerged, Live Science reported. The square grid that was printed measures 15 inches on all sides and could stretch and fold when placed in water. The researchers also printed up a shape that resembles the initials "MIT" and can turn into any shape that resembles the initials "SAL."
Raviv said the technique has a variety of potential uses in the future, such as printing home appliances, childcare products and clothing that could sense the environment to perform better. Using 4D-printing for medical implants and cardiac stents, which help the heart heal, is also a possibility.
"We want to print parts that can survive a lifetime inside the body if necessary," Raviv said while cautioning that more research is needed to improve 4D-printing material.
The next step for the team is to 4D print objects in a range of sizes, Live Science reported.
"Currently, we've made items a few centimeters in size," Raviv said. "For things that go inside the body, we want to go 10 to 100 times smaller. For home appliances, we want to go 10 times larger."
The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
