Patented viscoelastic silicone
MemorySil = Silly Putty® + Elastomer
A shape-memory silicone rubber that temporarily molds to whatever presses against it, yet slowly returns to a permanent default shape. It feels like a liquid and a solid combined.
What is MemorySil?
In its most basic form, MemorySil is Silly Putty® combined with an elastomer: the characteristics of a non-Newtonian putty and a viscoelastic elastomer in one material.
MemorySil is a patented shape-memory silicone rubber developed by physicists at the University of Virginia. It is a “viscoelastic silicone” that temporarily molds to the shape of whatever presses against it, while retaining a permanent default shape to which it very slowly returns when pressure is removed. Recovery can take a few seconds or a few hours, depending on the formulation.
Explore
The science
A polydimethylsiloxane network with sparse crosslinks and hydrogen-bonding additives, modeled by Maxwell-Wiechert relaxation.
Read the science →Applications
Medical cushions, prosthetic liners, VR and headphone interfaces, vibration isolation, tool grips, orthotics.
See applications →Table stabilizer
Passive, self-adjusting table-leg pads that stop a four-legged table from rocking, with no moving parts.
How it works →Graphene sensors
Graphene-infused MemorySil as a durable touch and pressure sensor, compared with Trinity College Dublin’s G-putty.
Compare →Impact testing
An honest look at a D3O laboratory report: excellent damping, poor stand-alone shock protection.
See the results →Quick answers
What is MemorySil made of?
A polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) network with a low density of covalent crosslinks, siloxane resin modifiers, and non-reactive plasticizing additives that form transient hydrogen bonds.
How hard is it?
MemorySil has no single durometer. It starts soft and, when pressed, temporarily drops to near zero stiffness, unlike a standard 10A elastomer which stays at a constant hardness.
How fast does it recover?
From a few seconds to a few hours, depending on the formulation.
Is it good for impact protection?
Not by itself. It dissipates energy very well, but it is too soft to stop concentrated high-energy impacts. Pair it with a rigid backing layer. See impact testing.
Who invented it?
Physicists at the University of Virginia; see the patents.