A team of researchers has developed innovative artificial muscle fibers that can produce and store energy.
These fibers mimic real muscles and could transform industries such as advanced textiles, medical robotics, and wearable devices.
Their groundbreaking work is published in the Chemical Engineering Journal.
The fibers are made from two materials: poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).
PLA is an eco-friendly, biodegradable plastic made from natural sources like corn and sugarcane.
It breaks down naturally under certain conditions, making it environmentally friendly. TPU is a tough and flexible material often used in products like athletic shoes, electronic device films, and artificial leather.
By carefully combining PLA and TPU, the team created strong and flexible artificial muscle fibers with advanced capabilities.
They used a special twisting process to make the fibers 4.18 times stronger than typical shape-memory fibers, which can return to their original shape when heated.
These new fibers are also incredibly durable, maintaining over 98% of their resilience after more than 50 uses.
One of the most impressive features of these artificial muscles is their ability to handle extreme loads. They can support weights up to 56,000 times their own weight while still maintaining their functionality.
In addition to strength and flexibility, these fibers can generate energy when pressure is applied. This makes them multifunctional, ideal for wearable devices or medical robots that need both energy production and storage capabilities.
Even after 1,000 cycles of charging and discharging, the fibers retain 90% of their original energy storage performance.
Senior Researcher Sangkyoo Lim from DGIST highlighted the potential of this innovation, saying, “We have successfully developed a new artificial muscle fiber technology capable of both producing and storing energy.
We anticipate its application across various industries, including robotics, advanced textiles, and wearable devices.”
This eco-friendly, high-performance technology could lead to more sustainable and efficient solutions for powering the next generation of wearable devices, smart textiles, and robotic systems.
By combining strength, flexibility, and energy efficiency, these artificial muscles pave the way for exciting advancements in multiple fields.
