Advancing auxetic materials: Emerging development and innovative applications

The development of auxetic materials, known for their unique negative Poisson's ratio, is transforming various industries by introducing new mechanical properties and functionalities. These materials offer groundbreaking applications and improved performance in engineering and other areas. Initially found in natural materials, auxetic behaviors have been developed in synthetic materials. Auxetic materials boast improved mechanical properties, including synclastic behavior, variable permeability, indentation resistance, enhanced fracture toughness, superior energy absorption, and fatigue properties. This article provides a thorough review of auxetic materials, including classification and applications. It emphasizes the importance of cellular structure topology in enhancing mechanical performance and explores various auxetic configurations, including re-entrant honeycombs, chiral models, and rotating polygonal units in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms. The unique deformation mechanisms of these materials enable innovative applications in energy absorption, medicine, protective gear, textiles, sensors, actuating devices, and more. It also addresses challenges in research, such as practical implementation and durability assessment of auxetic structures, while showcasing their considerable promise for significant advancements in different engineering disciplines.