Preparation And Characteristics Of IPMC Electroactive Actuator

As a kind of smart material, the IPMC has many merits such as low powerrequirement, simple actuating mode and light-weight, which promise its prospect infields of bio-inspired robotics, artificial muscles, and biological medicine etc. In orderto satisfy the wide requirements of scientific research and engineering practice ofIPMC materials, the preparation and optimization of IPMC, and the coupling electricand mechanic properties of IPMC are studied. The main works are shown as follows:1. The research status of IPMC technology and development trend are reviewedand analyzed systematically. The feature of IPMC electric actuator and its applicationin engineering are described in detail. The physicochemical constitutive of IPMCmaterials and its electronic actuator are interpreted.2. The standard process of preparation for IPMC based on Nafion-117membraneis studied. The test piece of IPMC electronic actuator is prepared by reducing Pt onthe surface of Nafion-117membrane with electroless plating. The results show thatthe compactly embedded micro-structure of IPMC actuator is framed between the Ptelectrode and Nafion-117membrane, and this kind of IPMC actuator can respond toelectric stimulus by large bending.3. Focusing on the defects of low power output of IPMC actuator, the process ofpreparation for IPMC based on Gel-casting is studied to enhance the output power ofIPMC. The thickness of IPMC prepared by this process can reach0.8mm, and itseffective output force could reach27mN, which is almost three times as much as theIPMC actuator made from Nafion-117membrane.4. An easier process of directional coarsening for IPMC membrane is studied,which improve the output force by7%compared with the one prepared by traditionalnon-directional coarsening.5. A testing platform based on the visual non-contact measuring principle is built.With lots of electric-mechanical test on the platform, several disciplines on responseproperty, strain property, mechanics property and electro-mechanical couplingproperty of IPMC are revealed and summarized. The respond displacement of IPMC with inputs of various waveforms is studied. Among the test of square wave, the sineand the triangular one, the square wave shows the best effect on the tip-displacementof IPMC.6. Compared with traditional IPMC materials using water as the solvent which iseasier to evaporate and electrolyze and results in short effectual operating time in theair, in this paper the ethylene glycol is substituted for water to serve as the solvent forIPMC materials, what can extend the operating time of IPMC materials in the air to270s...