Tiny Magnetic Particles Enable Material to Bend, Twist, and Grab

A soft polymer material called magnetic shape memory polymer was developed that uses magnetic fields to transform into a variety of shapes. The material is a mixture of three different ingredients, all with unique characteristics: two types of magnetic particles — one for inductive heat and one with strong magnetic attraction — and shape-memory polymers to help lock various shape changes into place. The single system is capable of rapid and reprogrammable shape changes that are lockable and reversible.