In pursuit of high-force/high-stroke conducting polymer actuators

Geoffrey Spinks; Binbin Xi; Toni Campbell; Philip Whitten; Vahid Mottaghitalab; Merhdad Bahrami Samani; Gordon G. Wallace

doi:10.1117/12.598407

6 May 2005 In pursuit of high-force/high-stroke conducting polymer actuators (Invited Paper)

Geoffrey Spinks, Binbin Xi, Toni Campbell, Philip Whitten, Vahid Mottaghitalab, Merhdad Bahrami Samani, Gordon G. Wallace

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5759, Smart Structures and Materials 2005: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD); (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.598407
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2005, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Conducting polymer actuators are being investigated for a number of applications. Both linear contracting/expanding and bending type actuators can be constructed that utilise the redox-induced volume changes in the conducting polymer. Improved actuator performance has been demonstrated by modifications to our helix-tube design. The pitch of the helix and bundling the actuators have increased the strain and force generated. Short-term improvements to the strain were also generated using new dopants, but cycle life was poor in this case. Further studies on the mechanism of actuation have continued to focus attention on the influence of the elastic modulus on the actuation strain. Surprising results have been obtained from polythiophene actuators that show an increased strain and increased work-per-cycle with an increasing applied load in isotonic operation. The observations were explained by an increase in modulus during the contraction cycle of the actuation. Preliminary studies show how the change in modulus can be conveniently measured using an in situ mechanical technique.

Citation Download Citation

Geoffrey Spinks, Binbin Xi, Toni Campbell, Philip Whitten, Vahid Mottaghitalab, Merhdad Bahrami Samani, and Gordon G. Wallace "In pursuit of high-force/high-stroke conducting polymer actuators (Invited Paper)", Proc. SPIE 5759, Smart Structures and Materials 2005: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD), (6 May 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.598407

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