Ultrastretchable Fibers with Metallic Conductivity Using a Liquid Metal Alloy Core

Abstract The fabrication and characterization of fibers that are ultrastretchable and have metallic electrical conductivity are described. The fibers consist of a liquid metal alloy, eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn), injected into the core of stretchable hollow fibers composed of a triblock copolymer, poly[styrene‐ b ‐(ethylene‐ co ‐butylene)‐ b ‐styrene] (SEBS) resin. The hollow fibers are easy to mass‐produce with controlled size using commercially available melt processing methods. The fibers are similar to conventional metallic wires, but can be stretched orders of magnitude further while retaining electrical conductivity. Mechanical measurements with and without the liquid metal inside the fibers show the…

• NS
  National Science Foundation
• MR
  Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University