When Van Gogh Meets Einstein: Sequential Self-Folding Origami Using Polystyrene Sheets with Local Light Absorption

Overview

This research investigates self-folding pre-strained polystyrene (PS) sheets into 3D geometric and nature-inspired shapes. Folding frequently occurs in nature and has been successfully utilized in areas such as robotics, solar power cells, and biomedical devices. When infrared (IR) light is absorbed in specific areas of the PS sheet, local heating in those areas cause the polymer to reach its glass transition point, where segments of the polymers are free to move and results in folding. With specific ink patterns, PS film can fold without manual manipulation and transform 2D patterns into 3D shapes. Specifically, this research studied folding responses of PS with respect to ink type (permanent marker, china marker, and crayon), line width, ink intensity, line placement, and ink color. Of the inks tested, china marker resulted in the fastest onset of folding (10 secs). Crayon and permanent marker started to fold at 15 secs and 50 secs, respectively. Black inks consistently caused folding while other colors deformed the films. Line width and ink intensity folded into angles ranging from 30°-90°. Using an innovative custom shrinkage scale, the shrinkage of PS controls could be used to guide film placement and estimate folding result. With this knowledge of PS responses, ink design patterns and light exposure duration were controlled to achieve sequential folding of edges as demonstrated with the folding of a basket, a bird, flowers and polyhedrons. These results demonstrated novel ways to self-fold origami shapes using commonly available materials and no advanced equipment.

Competition history

• AJAS 2018 Category not listed

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