Systems and methods for a remote control actuator
AssigneeTrustees of Tufts College
InventorsFiorenzo G. Omenetto, Meng Li
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present application relates to compositions and methods of making flexible composite materials that are capable of moving, on a micro- or macro-scale, in response to an applied magnetic field and localized heat from a heat source. The present disclosure further provides systems and methods of using the flexible composite material as an actuator for performing a mode of actuation. In one embodiment, the flexible composite material forms a wireless actuator that, when irradiated with light, is capable of micro- and macro-scale motion acting through the interplay of optically absorptive elements and low-Curie temperature magnetic particles.
Claims14
A temperature-responsive flexible magnetic composite comprising:
- a composite material comprising at least one polymer and a plurality of magnetic particles dispersed throughout at least a portion of the composite material, the composite material further comprising a light-absorbing additive,
- wherein the at least one polymer is silk fibroin or poly(dimethylsiloxane),
- wherein the plurality of magnetic particles comprises a Curie temperature above which the plurality of magnetic particles becomes paramagnetic and loses spontaneous magnetization,
- wherein the Curie temperature is less than 300° C.,
- wherein irradiating the light-absorbing additive elevates a temperature of at least a portion of the composite material above the Curie temperature, thereby reducing or eliminating spontaneous magnetization in the at least a portion of the composite material, and
- wherein the light-absorbing additive is a dye molecule.
A temperature-responsive flexible magnetic composite comprising:
- a composite material comprising at least one polymer and a plurality of magnetic particles dispersed throughout at least a portion of the composite material, the composite material further comprising a light-absorbing additive,
- wherein the at least one polymer is silk fibroin or poly(dimethylsiloxane),
- wherein the plurality of magnetic particles comprises a Curie temperature above which the plurality of magnetic particles becomes paramagnetic and loses spontaneous magnetization,
- wherein the Curie temperature is less than 300° C.,
- wherein irradiating the light-absorbing additive elevates a temperature of at least a portion of the composite material above the Curie temperature, thereby reducing or eliminating spontaneous magnetization in the at least a portion of the composite material, and
- wherein the at least one polymer and the plurality of magnetic particles are formed into a material selected from a film, a sponge, a monolith, and a hydrogel.
A temperature-responsive flexible magnetic composite comprising:
- a composite material comprising at least one polymer and a plurality of magnetic particles dispersed throughout at least a portion of the composite material, the composite material further comprising a light-absorbing additive,
- wherein the at least one polymer is silk fibroin or poly(dimethylsiloxane),
- wherein the plurality of magnetic particles comprises a Curie temperature above which the plurality of magnetic particles becomes paramagnetic and loses spontaneous magnetization,
- wherein the Curie temperature is less than 300° C.,
- wherein irradiating the light-absorbing additive elevates a temperature of at least a portion of the composite material above the Curie temperature, thereby reducing or eliminating spontaneous magnetization in the at least a portion of the composite material, and
- wherein the composite material comprises a weight ratio of magnetic particle to polymer between 1:1 and 5:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.