Silicone Filament Drawing
Silicone Filament Drawing - Related Videos
07:56
Drawing and Hydrophobicity-patterning Long Polydimethylsiloxane Silicone Filaments
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Cited by 3 •
2019
Here, we present a protocol to produce long filaments of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) silicone by gravity-drawing through a furnace. Filaments are on the order of hundreds of micrometers in diameter and tens of centimeters in length and are hydrophobically patternable via an Arduino-controlled corona discharge system.
11:57
Fabricating Metamaterials Using the Fiber Drawing Method
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Cited by 23 •
2012
Metamaterials at terahertz frequencies offer unique opportunities, but are challenging to fabricate in bulk. We adapt the fabrication procedure for microstructured polymer optical fibers to inexpensively fabricate metamaterials potentially on an industrial scale. We produce polymethylmethacrylate fibers containing ~10 μm diameter indium wires separated by ~100 μm, which exhibit a terahertz plasmonic response.
06:22
Motor Learning in Mirror Drawing
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2023
Source: Laboratory of Jonathan Flombaum—Johns Hopkins University Colloquially, the terms learning and memory encompass a broad range of behaviors and mental systems, everything from learning to tie a shoe to mastering calculus (and a lot in between). Experimental psychologists have divided up learning mechanisms into groups that seem to have different properties, and that seem to rely on different brain systems. A major division is between declarative and non-declarative memory, roughly, the...
08:58
Filamentous Fungi
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2023
Source: Laboratories of Dr. Ian Pepper and Dr. Charles Gerba - The University of Arizona Demonstrating Author: Bradley Schmitz Fungi are heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms, and with the exception of yeasts, are aerobic. They are abundant in surface soils and are important for their role in nutrient cycling and the decomposition of organic matter and organic contaminants. White rot fungi (phanerochaete chryosporium) for example, (Figure 1) are known to degrade aromatics. Figure 1. White rot on...
03:22
Phototaxis Assay of Filamentous Cyanobacteria Using Focused Light Illumination
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2025
Source: Weber, N. et. al., Natural Transformation, Protein Expression, and Cryoconservation of the Filamentous Cyanobacterium Phormidium lacuna. J. Vis. Exp. (2022)This video demonstrates a focused LED-based assay for studying phototaxis in filamentous cyanobacteria. The bacteria migrate toward the light source, forming a dense accumulation at the illuminated center, which is visualized and quantified through pixel intensity analysis of the captured image.
FAQs
Viscosity controls how readily the silicone deforms during stretching, while curing behavior determines whether the reduced cross-section remains stable. If the material flows too easily, dimensional control becomes difficult; if it gains shape-retaining character during curing, the drawn form is better preserved. This relationship makes material state a central variable in repeatable filament formation.
Controlled motion governs how consistently the silicone is stretched along its length. More consistent drawing conditions support a more uniform reduction in cross-sectional area, whereas uncontrolled motion can contribute to dimensional variation. For engineering fabrication, managing the motion is therefore important for improving filament uniformity, dimensional control, and repeatability between silicone-based structures.
The balance between deformability and shape retention depends on whether the silicone is uncured or partially cured. An uncured material can be stretched while still highly deformable, whereas partial curing changes how the material preserves its form during and after drawing. Selecting and controlling this state helps align the process with the desired filament geometry.
A typical sequence begins with uncured or partially cured silicone, followed by controlled stretching that reduces the material’s cross-sectional area. The drawn filament then benefits from curing behavior that helps preserve its shape. Maintaining consistent motion and material conditions throughout this sequence supports better dimensional uniformity and more repeatable fabrication outcomes.
Elasticity allows the resulting filaments to accommodate flexible or compliant designs, while low density supports lightweight structures. Chemical stability adds suitability for applications where the material’s chemical resistance is relevant. Together, these properties make drawn silicone filaments useful for constructing flexible forms without relying on a rigid, high-density material.
Engineers can apply the process when developing soft structures, flexible devices, compliant mechanisms, or fiber-based prototypes. It is especially relevant when a design requires slender elements that remain lightweight and flexible. Controlling the drawing conditions also helps researchers evaluate filament uniformity and dimensional repeatability during silicone-based manufacturing studies.