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Electrostrictive Grafr Elastomers and Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

J. Su ,
J. S. Harrison ,
T. L. St. Clair ,
Y. Bar-Cohen  and
S. Leary
J. Su
Affiliation:
National Research Council, NASA-Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA
J. S. Harrison
Affiliation:
NASA-Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA
T. L. St. Clair
Affiliation:
NASA-Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA
Y. Bar-Cohen
Affiliation:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory/CalTech, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
S. Leary
Affiliation:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory/CalTech, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
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Abstract

Efficient actuators that are lightweight, high performance and compact are needed to support telerobotic requirements for future NASA missions. In this work, we present a new class of electromechanically active polymers that can potentially be used as actuators to meet many NASA needs. The materials are graft elastomers that offer high strain under an applied electric field. Due to its higher mechanical modulus, this elastomer also has a higher strain energy density as compared to previously reported electrostrictive polyurethane elastomers. The dielectric, mechanical and electromechanical properties of this new electrostrictive elastomer have been studied as a function of temperature and frequency. Combined with structural analysis using x-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry on the new elastomer, structure-property interrelationship and mechanisms of the electric field induced strain in the graft elastomer have also been investigated. This electroactive polymer (EAP) has demonstrated high actuation strain and high mechanical energy density. The combination of these properties with its tailorable molecular composition and excellent processability makes it attractive for a variety of actuation tasks. The experimental results and applications will be presented.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 600: Symposium FF – Electroactive Polymers , 1999 , 131
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2000

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