PMSE 103 |
| Electroactive polymer actuators which convert electrical energy directly into mechanical force and motion have shown promise due to their ability to generate significant stresses and deformation as a result of applied voltages. Two issues that hinder the advance of this new technology are the requirement of high operating voltages as well as the need for flexible, conformable electrodes to accommodate the change in shape of these soft, flexible materials. A strategy is presented for reducing the operating voltages of electroactive devices through the incorporation of high K titanium oxide nanoparticles into the electroactive polymer matrix (acrylate). We have also developed a photopatterning technique which allows for the development of electroactive devices using rigid electrodes which reduces the complexity of device evaluation. In our best devices, we are able to achieve compression strains of approximately 10% for films without any prestrain at electric fields of less than 10 MV/m. The calculated effective electrostrictive coefficient for these films ranges between 1.2-6.8x10-166 m2/V2 depending on the level of titanium oxide loading. Interestingly the best performance is found for films with moderate loading levels with a reduction of electrostrictive coefficient for higher loadings. The complex relationship between film morphology, dielectric constant, and modulus is believed to determine the performance of these devices. |
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Synthesis and Self-Assembly Approaches to Polymer-Inorganic Hybrid Nanoparticles
1:30 PM-4:40 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Hilton New Orleans Riverside -- Grand Salon 24, Oral
Division of Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering |