Electro-Active Polymers

By: Isaac Garza

MEEN 3344

What are Electro-Active Polymers?

First discovery were in 1880 by Wilhelm Rntgen Two types of electro-active polymers

Natural Artificial

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

Dry Polymers

Wet Polymers

Electrostrictive, Electrostatic, Piezoelectric, Ferroelectric Require high activation voltage (>100 V/m) They can also be made to hold DC voltage which would allow robotic applications They also have a greater mechanical energy density

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

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