A Butterfly’s First Flight Inspires New Innovations in Force and Electricity Production
The wings of a butterfly are made of chitin, an organic polymer that forms the primary component of arthropod shells, including crustaceans and other insects. As a butterfly emerges from its cocoon in the final stage of metamorphosis, it gradually unfolds its wings to their full magnificence. During this process, the chitinous material becomes dehydrated, while blood pumps through the butterfly’s veins, generating forces that reorganize the material’s molecules. This reorganization provides the wings with the unique strength and stiffness essential for flight.
This natural interplay of forces, water movement, and molecular organization serves as the inspiration behind Associate Professor Javier G. Fernandez’s research.
Together with fellow researchers from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Assoc Prof Fernandez has been investigating the potential of chitinous polymers as a sustainable material for engineering applications. In their latest study, “Secondary Reorientation and Hygroscopic Forces in Chitinous Biopolymers and Their Use in Passive and Biochemical Actuation,” published in Advanced Materials Technologies, the research team highlights the adaptability and molecular changes of chitinous materials in response to environmental shifts.
Assistant Professor (Civil Engineering)
Er. Vikas Garg
