IPMCs are bi-polar actuators capable of large, rapid actuation in flexural configurations. The limit of actuation is defined by the maximal voltage that can be applied to the IPMC, above which electrolysis of the electrolyte and damage to the IPMC may occur. In this paper we present preliminary results that indicate how this actuation limit could be tuned and even exceeded through controlled thermal cycling of gold-plated Nafion IPMCs. Thermal cycling is used to move the centre point of the actuation stroke. Subsequent voltage stimulation actuates the structure around this new centre point. It is shown that by further thermal cycling this centre point naturally returns to its initial position. By exploiting this shape memory characteristic as part of a control system it is expected that more sophisticated IPMC actuation will be achievable.

Date Published: 3 April 2012
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 8340, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2012, 83401J (3 April 2012); doi: 10.1117/12.915473

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8340:
Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2012
Yoseph Bar-Cohen, Editor(s)