Complex mechanical properties of 3D micro-metric pantographic metamaterials fabricated by two-photon polymerization

Mechanical metamaterials consist of specially engineered features designed to tailor and enhance the mechanical properties of their constituent materials. In this context, 2D pantographic fabrics have gained attention for their unique deformation behavior, providing remarkable resilience and damage tolerance. This study explores micro-metric metamaterials with 3D pantographic motifs, aiming to transfer these properties to small scales. 3D micro-metric structures were designed using 2D pantographic fabrics arranged in multiple layers, each featuring unit cells with quasi-perfect pivots. Relatively large specimens of 3D micro-metric pantographs, measuring 158 μm x 250 μm x 450 μm, were fabricated in various configurations using two-photon polymerization. These specimens were mechanically characterized through in-situ scanning electron microscopy microindentation under conditions of cyclic deformation. Structural failures were subsequently assessed via helium-ion microscopy. The 3D micro-metric pantographs exhibited complex mechanical properties, some aligning with those of 2D pantographic fabrics, while new properties, such as a dissipative response and softening, were identified. Nonetheless, the 3D micro-metric pantographs demonstrated great resilience against deformation and enhanced resistance to undesired out-of-plane motions, indicating their potential for novel applications in advanced engineering fields. Additionally, the findings can potentially lead to optimizing and enriching theoretical models describing the mechanical behavior of pantographic metamaterials.