An investigation of a thermally steerable electroactive polymer/shape memory polymer hybrid actuator

Kailiang Ren; Robert S. Bortolin; Q. M. Zhang

doi:10.1063/1.4941802

An investigation of a thermally steerable electroactive polymer/shape memory polymer hybrid actuator

Kailiang Ren, Robert S. Bortolin, Q. M. Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

This paper investigates the thermal response of a hybrid actuator composed of an electroactive polymer (EAP) and a shape memory polymer (SMP). This study introduces the concept of using the large strain from a phase transition (ferroelectric to paraelectric phase) induced by temperature change in a poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) film to tune the shape of an SMP film above its glass transition temperature (T_g). Based on the material characterization data, it is revealed that the thickness ratio of the EAP/SMP films plays a critical role in the displacement of the actuator. Further, it is also demonstrated that the displacement of the hybrid actuator can be tailored by varying the temperature, and finite element method simulation results fit well with the measurement data. This specially designed hybrid actuator shows great promise for future morphing aircraft applications.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	062901
Journal	Applied Physics Letters
Volume	108
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4941802
State	Published - Feb 8 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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10.1063/1.4941802

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title = "An investigation of a thermally steerable electroactive polymer/shape memory polymer hybrid actuator",

abstract = "This paper investigates the thermal response of a hybrid actuator composed of an electroactive polymer (EAP) and a shape memory polymer (SMP). This study introduces the concept of using the large strain from a phase transition (ferroelectric to paraelectric phase) induced by temperature change in a poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) film to tune the shape of an SMP film above its glass transition temperature (Tg). Based on the material characterization data, it is revealed that the thickness ratio of the EAP/SMP films plays a critical role in the displacement of the actuator. Further, it is also demonstrated that the displacement of the hybrid actuator can be tailored by varying the temperature, and finite element method simulation results fit well with the measurement data. This specially designed hybrid actuator shows great promise for future morphing aircraft applications.",

author = "Kailiang Ren and Bortolin, {Robert S.} and Zhang, {Q. M.}",

note = "Funding Information: This project was supported by USAF, AFRL under Contract No. FA9550-06-C-0049 and Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences under a Funding No. Y5RKL01. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.",

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N1 - Funding Information: This project was supported by USAF, AFRL under Contract No. FA9550-06-C-0049 and Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences under a Funding No. Y5RKL01. Publisher Copyright: © 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.

PY - 2016/2/8

Y1 - 2016/2/8

N2 - This paper investigates the thermal response of a hybrid actuator composed of an electroactive polymer (EAP) and a shape memory polymer (SMP). This study introduces the concept of using the large strain from a phase transition (ferroelectric to paraelectric phase) induced by temperature change in a poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) film to tune the shape of an SMP film above its glass transition temperature (Tg). Based on the material characterization data, it is revealed that the thickness ratio of the EAP/SMP films plays a critical role in the displacement of the actuator. Further, it is also demonstrated that the displacement of the hybrid actuator can be tailored by varying the temperature, and finite element method simulation results fit well with the measurement data. This specially designed hybrid actuator shows great promise for future morphing aircraft applications.

AB - This paper investigates the thermal response of a hybrid actuator composed of an electroactive polymer (EAP) and a shape memory polymer (SMP). This study introduces the concept of using the large strain from a phase transition (ferroelectric to paraelectric phase) induced by temperature change in a poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) film to tune the shape of an SMP film above its glass transition temperature (Tg). Based on the material characterization data, it is revealed that the thickness ratio of the EAP/SMP films plays a critical role in the displacement of the actuator. Further, it is also demonstrated that the displacement of the hybrid actuator can be tailored by varying the temperature, and finite element method simulation results fit well with the measurement data. This specially designed hybrid actuator shows great promise for future morphing aircraft applications.

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An investigation of a thermally steerable electroactive polymer/shape memory polymer hybrid actuator

Abstract

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