Architected fillers: Shape becomes a design variable for composites

In a recent study, researchers in materials science at Tampere University challenged conventional composite filler shapes by introducing a different approach in which each particle’s 3D geometry is designed first, then printed to specification. The research enables decisions to be made on the shape of the filler, not only its material. This approach using architected fillers could pave the way for new solutions in soft robotics, biomedical materials with tailored stiffness and printed scaffolds for tissue engineering.