A team of Princeton researchers found they could coat a liquid elastic on the
outside of a disc and spin it to form useful, complex patterns. When
spun just right, tiny spindles rise from the material as it cures. The
spindles grow as the disc accelerates, forming a soft solid that
resembles hairs. Inspired by biological designs and rationalized with mathematical
precision, the new method could be used at an industrial scale for
production with plastics, glasses, metals and smart materials.
The researchers published their findings on Feb. 22, 2021 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Authors: Etienne Jambon-Puillet, Matthieu Royer Piéchaud, and P.-T. Brun
