SHAPE-MEMORY POLYMER WITH INTEGRAL RESISTIVE HEATING ELEMENT

A method of making a reconfigurable three-dimensional shape includes the following steps: (i) moving multiple print heads in three dimensions relative to a printing surface, where the print heads include a conductor print head and a polymer print head; (ii) depositing a conductive material from the...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: KOEHLER FREDERICK B, SANDERSON TERRY M
Format: Patent
Sprache:eng
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:A method of making a reconfigurable three-dimensional shape includes the following steps: (i) moving multiple print heads in three dimensions relative to a printing surface, where the print heads include a conductor print head and a polymer print head; (ii) depositing a conductive material from the conductor print head; and (iii) depositing a shape-memory polymer from the polymer print head. The depositing steps form a volumetric shape of a shape-memory polymer, capable of changing shape, with a conductive material capable of acting as a heating element integrally formed in the volumetric shape. The method can further include the steps of heating the shape-memory polymer above a transition temperature, changing the shape of the volumetric shape following the heating step, and then allowing the shape-memory polymer to cool below the transition temperature to fix the new volumetric shape.