Polycatenated Architected Materials

TL;DR

This paper introduces polycatenated architected materials (PAMs), a new class of 3D interlocked ring networks with unique mechanical and responsive properties, enabling advanced applications in stimuli-responsive and energy-absorbing systems.

Contribution

It presents a general design framework for transforming crystalline networks into interlocked particle structures, revealing novel mechanical behaviors and shape-shifting capabilities.

Findings

PAMs exhibit shear-thinning and shear-thickening responses under small loads.

At larger strains, PAMs behave like nonlinear lattices and foams.

PAMs can change shape in response to electrostatic charges.

Abstract

Architected materials derive their properties from the geometric arrangement of their internal structural elements. Their designs rely on continuous networks of members to control the global mechanical behavior of the bulk. Here, we introduce a class of materials that consist of discrete concatenated rings or cage particles interlocked in three-dimensional networks, forming polycatenated architected materials (PAMs). We propose a general design framework that translates arbitrary crystalline networks into particles' concatenations and geometries. In response to small external loads, PAMs behave like non-Newtonian fluids, showing both shear-thinning and shear-thickening responses. At larger strains, PAMs behave like lattices and foams, with a nonlinear stress-strain relation. At microscale, we demonstrate that PAMs can change their shapes in response to applied electrostatic charges. PAM's unique properties pave the path for developing stimuli-responsive materials, energy-absorbing systems and morphing architectures.