Robust Bicontinuous Elastomer–Metal Foam Composites with Highly Tunable Stiffness

Herein, a new class of robust bicontinuous elastomer–metal foam composites with highly tunable mechanical stiffness is proposed, fabricated, characterized, and demonstrated. The smart composite network two foams, one metallic made low melting point alloy (LMPA) the other elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). can be tuned by inducing phase changes in its LMPA component. Below LMPA, Young's modulus ≈1 GPa, whereas above it MPa. Thus, sharp change ≈1000× realized through proposed structure, which higher than all available composites. Effective medium theory also used to predict composites, generates reasonable agreement experimentally measured Finally, use these materials as joint robotic arm