Harvard University successfully developed a new composite material that can change shape by magnetic field

With the continuous development of human science and technology, more and more new materials have been invented and applied, and have made great contributions to human development. Recently, a new type of composite material has been developed abroad to change its shape by magnetic field.

According to foreign media New Atlas, scientists from Harvard University recently led an international team to develop a new composite surface that can be reshaped to shape, tack or smooth as needed through magnetic field applications. The team said it created a liquid-injected porous surface (FLIPS) containing ferrofluids.

As this surface name acronym implies, it is intended to "flip" between different states. It is achieved by the interaction of its two composite parts, a liquid containing magnetic particles and a solid substrate with a tiny texture.

When leaving its own equipment, ferrofluids spread over the top of the substrate to form a smooth surface. But when a magnetic field is applied, the ferrofluid will be closer to the shape underneath it, changing the properties of the surface material. For example, it may become an adhesive or provide friction only in one direction. Thus, FLIPS can be adjusted for different purposes by changing the geometry of the substrate, the type of ferrofluid used, and the strength and position of the magnetic field. It can also vary at the centimeter, millimeter or micron level.

The team said that this versatility can be used for a wide range of applications: for example, pipes coated with materials can continuously pump liquids; bacteria and particles can be used for microfabrication in very specific ways; droplets of different liquids can be Accurate time mixing for chemical reactions; or it can clean the surface against bacterial biofilms.

“Each of these applications can be extended further,” the researchers said. "Our results show that FLIPS allows for a more diverse combination of features, which may be the platform for many technologies in the future." The research was published in Nature.