Considerations for contractile electroactive materials and actuators

Lenore Rasmussen; David Schramm; Paul Rasmussen; Kevin Mullally; Lewis D. Meixler; Daniel Pearlman; Alice Kirk

doi:10.1117/12.880199

28 March 2011 Considerations for contractile electroactive materials and actuators

Lenore Rasmussen, David Schramm, Paul Rasmussen, Kevin Mullally, Lewis D. Meixler, Daniel Pearlman, Alice Kirk

Proceedings Volume 7976, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2011; 79762B (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.880199
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2011, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Ras Labs produces contractile electroactive polymer (EAP) based materials and actuators that bend, swell, ripple, and contract (new development) with low electric input. In addition, Ras Labs produces EAP materials that quickly contract and expand, repeatedly, by reversing the polarity of the electric input, which can be cycled. This phenomenon was explored using molecular modeling, followed by experimentation. Applied voltage step functions were also investigated. High voltage steps followed by low voltage steps produced a larger contraction followed by a smaller contraction. Actuator control by simply adjusting the electric input is extremely useful for biomimetic applications. Muscles are able to partially contract. If muscles could only completely contract, nobody could hold an egg, for example, without breaking it. A combination of high and low voltage step functions could produce gross motor function and fine manipulation within the same actuator unit. Plasma treated electrodes with various geometries were investigated as a means of providing for more durable actuation.

Citation Download Citation

Lenore Rasmussen, David Schramm, Paul Rasmussen, Kevin Mullally, Lewis D. Meixler, Daniel Pearlman, and Alice Kirk "Considerations for contractile electroactive materials and actuators", Proc. SPIE 7976, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2011, 79762B (28 March 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.880199

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