3D printing adds another dimension

Smart materials are already part of our daily lives. From novelty mugs with thermochromic pigments that change colour when holding a hot drink, to photochromic prescription glasses’ lenses that darken when the sun is out, to hydrogels that expand to soak up liquid in disposable nappies and sanitary products. But these are only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what smart materials – that can sense information about the environment around them and then act accordingly – are predicted to achieve in the future.

The key point is that these are not autonomous systems comprised of sophisticated electronics and robotics. The ability to sense stimuli and respond appropriately is instead preprogrammed into the design of a single material. Smart materials will need to jump many hurdles before they can reach their full potential, including how best to manufacture them. Over the past decade or so, increasing numbers of researchers have been exploring the potential of 3D printers for this purpose.