Artificial muscles piezoelectric polymer

An actuator converts electrical, chemical, mechanical and other energy into kinetic energy, for example in an electric motor, piezoelectric element, or artificial muscle. Various actuators have been reported using functional polymers to utilize... 

Usually, artificial muscle based on electrostrictive, piezoelectric, electrostatic, or ferroelectric materials have been manufactured as a film of the dry polymer, both sides coated with a thin metallic film required to apply the electric field. Electrokinetic artificial muscles [5,6] are constituted by films of polymeric gel (polymer, solvent, and salt) and two electrodes, located as close as possible to the material or coating both on sides, which are required to apply the electric field that drives the electroosmotic process. Any of the actuators described in this paragraph has a triple layer structure metal-electroactive polymer-metal (Figure 16.2). 

Electroactive polymers (EAP) n. Polymers that respond to electrical and magnetic stimulus with a significant change in shape and size. An example of an electroactive polymer is poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) that has been used for pressure sensitive (piezoelectricity) devices such as pressure sensors. Also, some polymers respond to photonic and thermal stimulus. Bar-Cohen Y (ed) (2001) Electroactive polymer (EAP) actuators as artificial muscles. SPIE Press, Bellingham, Washington. 

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