A variable stiffness fiber made of silicone and low melting point alloys quickly becomes >700 times softer and >400 times more deformable when heated above 62 °C. It shows remarkable self-healing properties and can be clamped, knitted, and bonded, as shown in a foldable multi-purpose drone, a wearable cast for bone injuries, and a soft multi-directional actuator.
Keywords: low melting point alloys; self-healing; soft actuators; variable stiffness; wearable devices.
© 2016 The Authors. Published by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.