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Briefing
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- Shifting Metamaterials – Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers invented new class of metamaterials that stiffen in less than one second when magnetic field is applied
- How It Is Made – Magnetically responsive fluid is manually injected into hollow 3D printed lattice structures
- How It Works – Fluid’s ferromagnetic particles form chains in response to magnetic field, hardening fluid and lattice structure as result
- Reversible Effect – Can also soften again and remain highly tunable depending on strength of magnetic field applied
- Potential Applications – Include next-generation helmets, neck braces, wearable armor, and car seats that harden upon detecting threats, as well as housing for optical components and soft robotics
- Next Steps – Include developing single-phase material where fluid component is built-in instead of manually injected, and increasing size of structures
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Accelerator
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Sector
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Information Technology, Military and Security, Transportation and Logistics
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Organization
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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
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Source
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Original Publication Date
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December 7, 2018
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