‘Flexible ceramics’ enabled by origami design
Bendable ceramic origami material created in the UH lab of Maksud Rahman, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. The new material could power next-gen prosthetics and aerospace technology (Photo: Houston University)
April 23, 2025 – Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new class of ceramic materials that can bend under pressure without breaking. The team 3D-printed a ceramic structure based on the Miuraori origami pattern—a folding technique that allows flat materials to be compacted without losing their two-dimensional shape.
They then coated the printed ceramic with a stretchable, biocompatible polymer, resulting in a ceramic material that is both strong and flexible.
According to the researchers, potential applications include medical prosthetics and shock-resistant components for aerospace and robotics—areas that demand lightweight yet durable materials.
The study was recently published in Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials, under the title ‘Macroscale ceramic origami structures with hyper-elastic coating.’
