Reliability tests of ionic polymer metallic composites in dry air for actuator applications
Journal
Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical
Journal Volume
232
Pages
183-189
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
Abstract
Electroactive polymers (EAPs) are capable of exhibiting large shape changes in response to electrical stimulation. EAPs can produce a large deformation with a low applied voltage for actuation applications. The IPMC (Ionic Polymer Metal Composite) is a well-known type of ionic EAP. It has numerous attractive advantages, such as low electrical energy consumption and being lightweight. The underlying mechanism of an IPMC actuator is the ionic diffusion when a voltage gradient is applied. As such, the characteristics of the ionic solution have a large impact on the physical properties of the IPMC. In this paper, reliability tests of IPMCs with a non-aqueous ionic solution are demonstrated. The Pt-IPMC with LiOH aqueous solution exhibits the best maximum displacement, but the water in the LiOH solution is electrolyzed easily because of the low electrolysis voltage (1.23 V) of water. To ameliorate the electrolysis problems and improve the operation time, more appropriate solvents with a high electrolysis voltage and low vapor pressure should be chosen. Parylene-coating can also protect the IPMC from solvent loss. The reliability tests focus on the durability of IPMCs in dry air. Improvements in IPMC fabrication, such as Ag-IPMC, are discussed in this paper. Through the use of parylene protection and an ionic solution with a high electrolysis voltage, the lifetime of the Ag-IPMC in dry air is up to 15 times greater than that of the uncoated Ag-IPMC with aqueous solution. We have addressed potential issues regarding the dry air actuation of IPMCs, and found that the cracking of electrodes has a major impact on the reliability of the IPMCs in this study. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
SDGs
Other Subjects
Actuators; Conducting polymers; Copolymers; Electrolysis; Energy utilization; Ions; Metals; Polymers; Reliability; Silver; Solutions; Electrical energy consumption; Electrical stimulations; Electroactive polymers; Electrolysis voltages; Ionic polymer metal composites; LiOH aqueous solution; Low applied voltages; Maximum displacement; Durability
Type
journal article