PEACE · Polymer and elastomer actuator concepts for engineering
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2005-01-01 → 2006-12-31
- EU contribution
- €157,064
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- EIF
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Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - PEACE (Polymer and elastomer actuator concepts for engineering)
Electro-active polymers are able to convert an amount of electrical energy into a physical output in its surroundings. Since the observed motions are large, and the actions achieved are soft, the electro-active polymers are often described as artificial muscles. In this project it was sought to find new principles for the conversion of electrical energy into controlled mechanical motion, through the combination of stiff polymer actuators with soft polymer actuators. A very general principle was discovered through the project. It was found that if a piece of elastomer material is stretched over a frame of intermediate stiffness, the resulting highly deformed 3-dimensional out-of-the-plane shape can be defined with high precision. Further, when electro-active polymers are used as the building materials, polymer actuators can be achieved with strain-amplified motion highly beneficial to actuation. These novel polymer actuators are best described as active structures, and a term 'minimum energy structures' was coined to describe their structure and their motion under applied voltages. These active structures can display linear or bending motion, depending upon the chosen shape of the frame. It is a simple matter to embed several actuators within a certain structure, to allow such applications as self-organised robotics. In particular, special structures that display novel actuation modes can be made. For instance, a three-clawed grabber was demonstrated, which was manufactured by simple procedures. Finally, the minimum energy structures should allow easy combination of various electro-active polymers into active structures relying on piezoelectric or thermal activation.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The combination of two electromechanically active materials with very different properties into a single active structure is a novel concept of wide implication: the actuation properties of such active structures would be highly tuneable, and actuation modes of a high complexity made possible, with numerous potential applications like active exoskeletons, micro air vehicles, autonomous robots, variable stiffness materials, haptic displays, active damping and noise suppression, etc.Two electro-active polymers will be employed, piezoelectric polymer and dielectric elastomer. Their actuation properties are well-known, and they constitute the two main electric-field actuated polymers. They are complementary in the sense that dielectric elastomer actuators (DEA) easily output strains of more than 200%, but provide actuation stresses of just a few MPa. Conversely, piezoelectric polymer actuators (PPA) display very low strains, usually lower than 1%, but return actuation stresses of several GPa. Since both DEA and PPA are well understood, their combination is technologically feasible.These complementary properties will be combined into active structures, with 1, 2, and 3-dimensional spatial variations in materials and electrodes, displaying a wealth of actuation modes and properties. A range of spectroscopic techniques will be applied to understand the interplay between two active materials; many of these methods were developed by the host. Continuum and finite element models ensure that experimental results can be explained by known physics. The proposer's expertise lies mainly in DEA.This proposal aims to resume his research career, by diversifying his skills into the other main electric-field actuating material, the polymer ferroelectrets, in which the host is a leader. With his teaching skills and management experience, further complemented by the host, he will become a mature researcher, and a focal point for the interdisciplinary research in PPA and DEA.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITAET POTSDAM · POTSDAMCoordinatorGermany
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union