Water reactive sheets could become critical part of MEMS

While we've seen mention (and patent applications) of origami-based gadgetry before, the latest gizmo to incorporate crafty folding also melds it with a water reactive plastic in order to create diminutive shapes that "could be used to make certain microscopic 3D structures in large quantities." Gurus from ESPCI and the Paris Institute of Technology have teamed up to concoct specialized plastic sheets which react in curious ways to wee water droplets, and while the process itself seems more interesting than useful, the bigger picture could enable this technology to become a staple of microelectromechanical systems used in printing heads and video displays. Interestingly enough, the scientists were even kind enough to create a time lapse video of the morphing process in action, so be sure to tag the links below if you're even remotely interested in seeing a two-dimensional triangle mystically convert into a pyramid.

[Via NewScientistTech]

[Jp @ Apr 15th 2007 5:59AM]

"water reactive plastic"
C'Mon guys, there is no reaction at all it's just the surface tension of the bipolar whater molecules, which tries to pull the plastic membrane in to a perfect sphere (like a whater drop (under 0G conditions ;-)) and the force of the plastic to remain as it is makes it fold in different ways. If you put the membranes into large amount of water nothing will happen…
It's the same phenomenon as whater running down your window, even if it's angle is less than 90°.
Would work with any small piece of paper, clever though.

Have a nice day, Jp

[Meltz; @ Apr 15th 2007 11:18AM]

Looks like someone's smarter than the rest of us

[LJ @ Apr 15th 2007 8:50PM]

looks more like a smart someone that can't spell 'water'

[Loomis @ Apr 15th 2007 1:12PM]

The surface tension is cool and all. But, ah, the MEMS/origami approach is nothing new. Try a web search for "Nanostructured Origami" (TM), for example.

[ansbro @ Apr 15th 2007 1:27PM]

Something that opens when you sweat would be usefull in clothing.

[David Chesne @ Apr 15th 2007 2:13PM]

Actually that would be a "two-dimensional triangle mystically [converting] into a" three-dimensional triangle. Pyramids have 4 faces.

It'll be interesting to see how this plastics tech can be applied in the future - perhaps something in firefighting..

[lakiolen @ Apr 15th 2007 4:52PM]

Close, but still more accurate than the original post. Pyramids have 5 faces, 4 triangles and one rectangle. What the plastic has turned into is a tetrahedron.

[michael @ Apr 15th 2007 7:28PM]

That is four faces.

[michael @ Apr 15th 2007 7:25PM]

Yes you are right, but it can still be called a pyramid as it is a triangular based pyramid.

[Bultie @ Apr 16th 2007 9:18AM]

Sorry, I'm from germany ^^so errors may occure.