Digital composites with reprogrammable phase architectures
2026-01-23
Spatial patterning of material phases underpins the functional diversity of natural and engineered composites. However, phase architectures are typically fixed once formed, limiting adaptability. Here, we introduce a digital composite with reprogrammable solid-liquid phase architectures at voxel resolution. Each elastomeric voxel contains a liquid metal composite capable of electrically switching between nonvolatile solid and liquid states within seconds, analogous to rewriting data on a hard disk. High-throughput experiments and coupled modeling demonstrate precise tuning of viscoelastic and plastic properties, as well as programmable constitutive behaviors and strain distributions. A modular assembly strategy allows scalable 3D construction of reprogrammable composites into free-form, bulk geometries. By encoding phase states as digital inputs, the composite unlocks unprecedented access to real-time, voxel-level tuning of material properties.