PROJECT OBJECTIVES:

  • Develop for the first time a light-responsive foam with controllable compliance and shape using photoreversible precursors.
  • Design the liquid impregnation process of the foam with the photoreactive precursors, and the curing process of the impregnated foam (i.e., a foam/liquid/air composite medium).
  • Analysis of the degree of photoreversibility of the cured composite foam in view of: i) tuning the foam compliance through partial depolymerisation and ii) reshaping the foam through full depolymerisation and subsequent photoinduced repolymerisation.
  • Optimisation of the properties of the foams in view of their use in acoustic applications, together with their detailed life-cycle costing and assessment.

EXPECTED RESULTS:

  • Knowledge on the impregnation behaviour of photoreversible precursors into soft open-cell foams, and selection criteria for suitable foams.
  • Protocol for the preparation of light-responsive foam, including synthesis of photoresponsive precursors, and impregnation process.
  • Setting of an appropriate sustainability metrics and comprehensive life cycle costing and sustainability assessment of the novel light-responsive foams.
  • Light-responsive composite foams with tunable compliance and that can be reshaped.
  • Obtain at least one prototype with better sustainability and comparable properties, or enhanced properties and comparable sustainability with respect to selected benchmark.
  • Trained researcher expert on novel photopolymers, foam impregnation and smart stimuli-responsive processes, also acquired during secondments.

PLANNED SECONDMENTS:

  • Host 1: PCCL (AT), supervisor: S. Schlögl, timing: month 25, length: 6 months. Purpose: synthesis and characterisation of photoreversible precursor materials.
  • Host 2: LOGITECH (CH), supervisor: J. M. Chardon, timing: month 38, length: 3 months. Purpose: validation of foam suitability for the prototype of ear-tip with life cycle and costing analyses.

*Enrolment in Doctoral degree: at EPFL. Prof. V. Michaud will act as supervisor, and Dr. Y. Leterrier as co-supervisor.