Metamaterials that are both strong and stretchable
(Photo: MIT)
April 23, 2025 – Metamaterials are synthetic materials engineered with microscopic structures that give them extraordinary properties. Much research has focused on designing metamaterials that are stronger and stiffer than conventional materials. However, there is often a trade-off: the stiffer a material, the less flexible it becomes.
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have now developed a metamaterial that is both strong and stretchable. Although the base material is typically very rigid and brittle, it is printed in precise, intricate patterns that form a structure capable of combining strength with flexibility.
The secret lies in the combination of stiff, microscopic struts and a softer, woven-like architecture. This microscopic ‘double network,’ printed using a plexiglass-like polymer, resulted in a material that could stretch up to four times its original length without breaking.
MIT believes this approach could lead to stretchable ceramics, glass, and metals, as well as tear-resistant fabrics and flexible semiconductors.
The research was published on April 23 in Nature Materials, under the title ‘Double-network-inspired mechanical metamaterials.’
