Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-b6zl4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-27T13:45:00.776Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Ultra-High Strain Response of Elastomeric Polymer Dielectrics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

Roy Kornbluh ,
Ronald Pelrine ,
Jose Joseph ,
Qibing Pei  and
Seiki Chiba
Roy Kornbluh
Affiliation:
SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025, roy.kombluh@sri.com
Ronald Pelrine
Affiliation:
SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025, roy.kombluh@sri.com
Jose Joseph
Affiliation:
SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025, roy.kombluh@sri.com
Qibing Pei
Affiliation:
SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025, roy.kombluh@sri.com
Seiki Chiba
Affiliation:
SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025, roy.kombluh@sri.com
Get access

Abstract

The strain response of dielectric elastomers sandwiched between compliant electrodes was studied. These electroactive polymer artificial muscle (EPAM) materials show excellent overall performance and appear more attractive than many competing actuator technologies. Based on the available data, the actuation mechanism is due to the free charge interaction of the compliant electrodes, enhanced by the dielectric properties of the elastomer (Maxwell stress). Strains over 200%, actuation pressures up to 8 MPa, and energy densities up to 3.4 J/cm3 have been demonstrated with silicone rubber and acrylic elastomers. Response time is rapid, and the potential efficiency is high. The fabrication of EPAM actuators can be simple and low cost. A wide range of small devices have been made, to demonstrate the potential of the technology and reveal more about performance and fabrication issues. These devices include bending beam actuators for scanners and clamps, diaphragm actuators for pumps and valves, stretched-film actuators for electro-optics, and bow actuators for muscle-like actuators for small robots and other micro machines.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 600: Symposium FF – Electroactive Polymers , 1999 , 119
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Pelrine, R., Eckerle, J., and Chiba, S., Proc. Third Intl. Symposium on Micro Machine and Human Science, Nagoya, Japan (1992).Google Scholar
2. Pelrine, R., R, Kornbluh, R., Joseph, J., and Chiba, S., Proc. IEEE Tenth Annual Intl. Workshop on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, Nagoya, Japan, 238–243 (1997).Google Scholar
3. Zhang, Q., Bharti, V., and Zhao, X., "Giant Electrostriction and Relaxor Ferroelectric Behavior in Electron-Irradiated Poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) Copolymer," Science, 280, 2101–2104 (1998).Google Scholar
4. Zhenyl, M., Scheinbeim, J.I., Lee, J.W., and Newman, B.A., "High Field Electrostrictive Response of Polymers," J. Polymer Sciences, Part B-Polymer Physics, 32, 2721–2731 (1994).Google Scholar
5. Shkel, Y., and Klingenberg, D., Applied, J. Physics, 80(8), 4566–4572 (1996).Google Scholar
6. Furukawa, T., and Seo, N., Japanese J. Applied Physics, 29 (4), 675–680 (1990).Google Scholar
7. Tobushi, H., Hayashi, S., and Kojima, S., in JSME International J., Series 1, 35 (3) (1992).Google Scholar
8. Baughman, R., Shacklette, L., Elsenbaumer, R., Pichta, E., and Becht, C., in Conjugated Polymeric Materials: Opportunities in Electronics, Optoelectronics and Molecular Electronics, eds. Bredas, J.L. and Chance, R.R., Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, 559–582 (1990).Google Scholar
9. De Rossi, D., and Chiarelli, P., Macro-Ion Characterization, American Chemical Society Symposium Series, 548, 40, 517–530 (1994).Google Scholar
10. Oguro, K., Kawami, Y., and Takenaka, H., Micromachine, J. Society, 5, 27–30 (1992).Google Scholar
11. Shahinpoor, M., J. Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, 6, 307–314 (1995).Google Scholar
12. Smela, E., Inganas, O., and Pei, Q., Advanced Materials, Communications Section, 5, 9, 630–632 (1993).Google Scholar
13. Pei, Q., Inganas, O., and Lundstrom, I., Smart Materials and Structures, 2, 1–6 (1993).Google Scholar
14. Bobbio, S., Kellam, M., Dudley, B., Johansson, S. Goodwin, Jones, S., Jacobson, J., Tranjan, F., and DuBois, T., in Proc. IEEE Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Workshop, February, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (1993).Google Scholar
15. Pelrine, R., Kornbluh, R., and Joseph, J., Sensor and Actuators A: Physical 64, 77–85 (1998).Google Scholar
16. Pelrine, R., Kornbluh, R., Pei, Q., and Joseph, J., "High Speed Electrically Actuated Elastomers With Over 100% Strain," to be published in Science.Google Scholar
17. Heydt, R., Kornbluh, R., Pelrine, R., and Mason, B., Sound, J. and Vibration, 215(2), 297–311 (1998).Google Scholar
18. Heydt, R., Pelrine, R., Joseph, J., Eckerle, J., and Kornbluh, R., "Acoustical Performance of an Electrostrictive Polymer Film Loudspeaker," to be published in J. Acoustical Society of America (1999).Google Scholar
19. Kornbluh, R., Pelrine, R., Joseph, J., Heydt, R., Pei, Q., and Chiba, S., Proc. SPIE Sixth Intl. Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials: Electro-Active Polymer Actuators and Devices, 149–161(1999).Google Scholar
20. Park, S., and Shrout, T., J. Applied Physics, 82, 1804–1811 (1997).Google Scholar
21. Hunter, I., Lafontaine, S., Hollerbach, J., and Hunter, P., Proc. 1991 IEEE Micro Electro Mechanical Systems-MEMS '91, 166–170 (1991).Google Scholar
22. Hunter, I., and Lafontaine, S., Technical Digest of the IEEE Solid-State Sensor and Actuator Workshop, 178–185 (1992).Google Scholar