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Shape the future with memory polymers
Challenge Type: engineering
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$1,000
top 10
30
submissions
DONE
113 months

Evonik’s portfolio of specialty materials includes a shape changing rubber known as a Shape Memory Polymer. What is a Shape Memory Polymer? These materials can be mechanically stretched or deformed to several times its original size at ambient temperatures, then heated and have it return to its original forms within 99+% accuracy.

This rubber can be extruded or molded into various forms - monofilaments (think guitar strings), woven multifilaments (think fibers for apparel or as large as woven rope), extruded sheet stock (up to 8 ft wide with any length), or injection molded part (any geometry). Your challenge is to provide an innovative idea or application that will use this product in a consumer or industrial setting.

Deliverables

Propose an end use for this material. The ideal usage would be a new to the world application or feature rather than classic uses of existing materials. You need to include:

1) A written explanation

2) A sketch or design for your proposed usage

Acceptable file formats are .doc, .docx, and .pdf.

Criteria:

1) The finished product can be stretched up to 4 times its original size in any direction. The stretching requires some, but not extreme mechanical force or can withstand this amount of impact.

2) To return to its original form there needs to be temperature applied that is between 170 and 190 degrees F.

    Submissions will be graded on the following criteria:
  • Meets Deliverables
  • Creativity
  • Clarity
Additional Materials:
Reward Tiers
5 Winners
will receive $150 each
5 Honorable Mentions
will receive $50 each
Leaderboard
$150.00 Ryan Selhorst University of Massachusetts
$150.00 SIRANJEEVI D National Institute of Technology Trichy
$150.00 Joseph Conjerti Miami University
$150.00 Neal Cardoza Purdue University
$150.00 Ross Baugher University of Florida
$50.00 Tenghooi Goh Yale University
$50.00 Kaitlin Murphy University of South Carolina
$50.00 Jordon Jellicorse University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
$50.00 Michael Anderson University of Iowa
$50.00 Marc Schlessel University of Michigan
Submission questions


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