Waste Sulfur-Made Robots

Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), in collaboration with Hanyang University and Sejong University, has developed a 4D printing technology that repurposes sulfur byproducts from oil refining into programmable, fully recyclable materials.

By redesigning the internal structure of sulfur polymers, the team improved printability and enabled heat and light-triggered shape-memory functionality. A brief laser exposure can fuse components without adhesives by temporarily breaking and reforming chemical bonds, supporting modular assembly of adaptive structures.

Through this unique process, the material can be completely melted down and reused. When blended with iron powder, it also responds to magnetic fields, enabling the creation of a sub-centimeter soft robot capable of movement without an onboard power source.

Interested consumers can learn more through KRICT.

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