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Abstract Multifunctional fibers with high mechanical strength enable advanced applications of smart textiles, robotics, and biomedicine. Herein, we reported a one-step degumming method to fabricate strong, stiff, and humidity-responsive smart cellulosic fibers from abundant natural grass. The facile process involves partially removing lignin and hemicellulose functioning as glue in grass, which leads to the separation of vessels, parenchymal cells, and cellulosic fibers, where cellulosic fibers is manufactured at kilogram scale. The resulting fibers show dense and unidirectional fibril structure at both micro- and nano-scales, which demonstrate high tensile strength of ∼0.9 GPa and Young's modulus of 72 GPa, being 13- and 14-times higher than original grass. Inspired by stretchable plant tendrils, we developed humidity-responsive actuator by engineering cellulosic fibers into spring-like structure, presenting superior response rate and lifting capability. These strong and smart cellulosic fibers can be manufactured at large scale with low cost, representing promising fiber material derived from renewable and sustainable biomass.
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Exploring a Software Tool for Biofibers Design
The Biofibers Spinning Machine produces bio-based fibers (biofibers) that are dissolvable and biodegradable. These fibers enable recycling of smart textiles by making it easy to separate electronics from textiles. Currently, prototyping with the machine requires the use of low-level commands, i.e. G-code. To enable more people to participate in the sustainable smart textiles design space and develop new biofiber materials, we need to provide accessible tools and workflows. This work explores a software tool that facilitates material exploration with machine parameters. We describe the interface design and demonstrate using the tool to quantify the relationship between machine parameters and spun gelatin biofibers.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2413631
- PAR ID:
- 10617818
- Publisher / Repository:
- ACM
- Date Published:
- ISBN:
- 9798400707186
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1 to 3
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- sustainable smart textiles exploratory digital fabrication
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Location:
- Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
-
Accepted Manuscript
- Conference Paper:
- https://doi.org/10.1145/3672539.3686317
