Fuente: Polymers Polymers, Vol. 17, Pages 3153: Metamortar Composites Reinforced with Re-Entrant Auxetic Cells: Mechanical Performance and Enhanced Energy Absorption
Polymers doi: 10.3390/polym17233153
Authors:
Jorge Fernández
César Garrido
Luis Muñoz
Felipe Nuñez
Rodrigo Valle
Víctor Tuninetti

This study investigates the mechanical behavior and energy absorption capacity of a novel metamortar composite, developed by embedding re-entrant auxetic cellular structures into a cementitious mortar matrix. Auxetic materials, which exhibit a negative Poisson’s ratio, offer distinct advantages in impact resistance and stress dissipation. Despite their promising properties, their integration into cement-based systems remains limited. In this work, auxetic cells were fabricated using different 3D printing filaments and combined with mortar to form hybrid composites. The specimens were subjected to quasi-static compression tests to evaluate their Young’s modulus, yield strength, and energy absorption capacity. Results indicate that the auxetic inclusions substantially improved the mechanical performance of the mortar, particularly in the case of PLA-based cells, which achieved the highest values across all tested parameters. The enhancements are attributed to the synergistic deformation mechanisms of the auxetic geometry and the surrounding matrix, promoting efficient load distribution and delayed crack propagation. These findings contribute to the advancement of cementitious metamaterials and establish a foundation for scaling toward metaconcrete systems with improved energy dissipation for use in protective, seismic, and infrastructure applications.