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'Auxetics' are materials that become thicker perpendicularly to the applied force when stretched. They have a negative Poisson's ratio, that is, they get thicker and not thinner when stretched. Materials of this sort are expected to have interesting mechanical properties such as high energy absorption and fracture resistance which may be useful in applications such as packing material, knee and elbow pads, robust shock absorbing material, and sponge mops.

The term auxetic is derived from the Greek word αυξητικός (auxetikos) which means, ''that which tends to increase'' and has its root in the word αύξησις (auxesis), meaning ''increase'' . Auxetic materials can be single molecules, or a particular structure of macroscopic matter.
Auxetic materials are quite new. The earliest published example was in ''Science'' in 1987, "Foam structures with a negative Poisson's ratio" by R.S. Lakes of University of Iowa. The use of the word Auxetic to refer to this property was probably begun in 1991.

Contents

External links

External links

★ Auxetic Materials - Applications

★ Auxetic

★ Materials with negative Poisson's ratio

★ Auxetic Materials - What are they?

★ UK Auxetic Materials network

★ Movie of Auxetic Materials(.mov format)