Energy storing 3D-printed materials mimic eagle’s grip

Known as auxetics, the materials collapse in on themselves when compressed rather than bulging outwards, allowing energy to be stored within the structures. Auxetics have recently been adopted for lightweight armour, the material collapsing upon impact from a bullet and absorbing the kinetic energy. But while the auxetics used for armour tend to have sharp corners that can fracture over multiple impacts, this new category has smoothed curves that allow multiple reuses and deformations. Similar to eagle’s claws as they grip prey, the material ‘locks’ the energy into place and maintains it with minimal effort.

"The exciting future of new materials designs is that they can start replacing devices and robots,” said Queen Mary’s Dr Stoyan Smoukov, principal investigator of the study, which is published in Frontiers in Materials.

“All the smart functionality is embedded in the material, for example the repeated ability to latch onto objects the way eagles latch onto prey, and keep a vice-like grip without spending any more force or effort."