Direct Measurement of Extension and Force in Conductive Polymer Gel Actuators

Goods, S.H. ; Whinnery, L.L. ; Irvin, D.J. ; Korellis, J.S.

Sandia National Laboratories

关键词: Gels;    36 Materials Science;    Dimensions;    Oxidation;    Hysteresis;   

DOI  :  10.2172/781977
RP-ID  :  SAND2001-8166
RP-ID  :  AC04-94AL85000
RP-ID  :  781977

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

The synthesis of a polythiophene-based conductive polymer gel is described. Preliminary measurements of the electrochemically driven extension and force response of this gel are reported when driven under the action of an applied square-wave potential. Over each square wave interval (i.e., one oxidation pulse followed by one reduction pulse), the axial change in dimension was found to be approximately 2%. Some hysteresis was noted in that the cylindrical specimens did not return to their original axial dimension. The axial pressure generated by the expansion of the gel against a fixed surface was also measured and found to be on the order of 15 kPa.