Transcript Electro-Active Polymers (Issac Garza)

Electro-Active
Polymers
By: Isaac Garza
MEEN 3344
What are Electro-Active Polymers?
First discovery were in 1880 by Wilhelm
Röntgen
 Two types of electro-active polymers
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Natural
 Artificial
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A lightweight strip of highly flexible plastic that
bends and functions similarly to a human finger
when an electrical voltage is applied to it.
How are they Used?

Artificial Muscles

Small Robotic Devices
Two Categories of EAP
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Dry Polymers
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Electrostrictive, Electrostatic,
Piezoelectric, Ferroelectric
Require high activation voltage
(>100 V/µm)
They can also be made to hold
DC voltage which would allow
robotic applications
They also have a greater
mechanical energy density

Wet Polymers
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Ion exchange, conductive
polymers, gels
Only a 1-2 drive voltage is
required
There is a need to maintain
their wetness
It is difficult to sustain DCsustained displacements
EAP Materials

Dry Polymers
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Electrostrictive graft elastomers, electrostrictive paper,
electro-viscoelastic elastomers, liquid crystal elastomer
materials
Wet Polymers

Carbon nanotubes, conductive polymers,
electrorheological fluids, ionic polymer gels
References
http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov/ndeaapub/Japan/biomimetic-polymers-handbook.pdf
 http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov/nasa-nde/lommas/aahp.htm
