Intelligent polymer systems

Inherently Conducting Polymers Their Role in the Evolution of Intelligent Polymer Systems... 

Intelligent Polymer Systems possess the ability to sense, process information and actuate responses based on the environment to which the structure is exposed. In addition, the structure may require energy to implement these functions and so energy conversion/storage capabilities are desirable. Ideally these functions would be integrated at the molecular level. 

While a number of classes of polymers are capable of providing one or more of the above functions, only Inherently Conducting Polymers (ICPs) provide all of them. In fact, in the authors laboratory it was studies into inherently conducting polymers that led us to the concept of Intelligent Polymer Systems as reviewed recently [1,2]. 

To illustrate the ability of ICPs to provide the range of functions required for Intelligent Polymer Systems we will draw on examples that utilise polypyrroles, polythiophenes or polyanilines (I-III shown at the top of the next page). 

Some information is available about the environmental effects on the mechanical properties of PPy. For most intelligent polymer systems, mechanical properties need to be stable with time in the service environment. One study has tracked the changes... 

Rapid advances in synthetic polymer science and nanotechnology have revealed new avenues of development in conductive electroactive polymers that take greater advantage of this versatile class of materials unique properties This third edition of Conductive Electroactive Polymers Intelligent Polymer Systems continues to provide an in-depth understanding of how to engineer dynamic properties in inherently conducting polymers from the molecular level. 

Conductive electroactive polymers intelligent polymer systems / Gordon G. Wallace. .. [et al.]. — 3rd ed. p. cm. 

It has been clearly demonstrated over the past 20 years that inherently conducting polymers (ICPs) are capable of providing all of the above functions and as such they have a critical role to play in the development of intelligent polymer systems (see Electrically Active Polymers). 

Figure 4.23. Schematic representation of "intelligent" polymer systems in solution, on surfaces and as hydrogels [113].

Wallace, G. G. Spinks, G. M. Kane-Maguire, L. A. P. Teasdale, P. R. Conductive Electroactive Polymers Intelligent Polymer Systems, 3rd ed., CRC Press New York, 2008. 

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