Honors Theses
Exploration of Property Design Space of a 3D-Printable Self-Healing Hydrogel
Advisor
Robert Lowe, Ph.D.
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Publication Date
11-2025
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Abstract
The development of self-healing elastomers for soft robotics is occurring at an increasingly rapid pace due to the need for resilient materials that are capable of repairing minor damage without human intervention. Compared to conventional rigid robots, soft robots leverage compliant elastomeric materials to enable safe interactions with humans and on-the-fly adaptability to different physical environments. Recently, the development of self-healing elastomers that are also 3D printable has paved the way for creating parts with complex geometries and fine features that could not be achieved with traditional polymer casting processes. Similar exciting developments have been unfolding in the field of stretchable electronics, an emerging area of research focused on creating soft, stretchable, and thin electronic circuits using elastomeric materials as a substrate. When embedded in a soft robot, sensors and stretchable circuitry enable soft robotic systems that can sense and react to their environments. In this work, we propose a new “electronic” material system that combines a 3D-printed self-healing elastomer substrate with stretchable circuitry to enable next-generation soft robots with embedded electronics (e.g., sensors, actuators, power sources, microcontrollers).
eCommons Citation
Drexler, Robert M.A., "Exploration of Property Design Space of a 3D-Printable Self-Healing Hydrogel" (2025). Honors Theses. 493.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/uhp_theses/493
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