A fast (0.8sec), large (>10%) and reversible deformation of Poly(vinyl alcohol) gel (PVA) swollen with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) upon electric field was realized, and the maximum observed strain reached quite high 27% (DP2100). St-PVA gels were found to exhibit more stable and reversible deformation than at-PVA gels. Furthermore, we have studied the macroscopic structure of PVA/DMSO gels and its influence on their strain exhibition. Four differently structured PVA/DMSO gels, monolayer, circular, triple-layered and porous, were prepared. Monolayer gel exhibited the highly reproducible strain behavior. The mechanism of electric actuation of PVA/DMSO gel is proposed. Then a design of gel mechanical switch is shown, which exhibited the fast response to the electric field with a large, stable and reversible stretching deformation.

Date Published: 16 July 2001
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 4329, Smart Structures and Materials 2001: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices, (16 July 2001); doi: 10.1117/12.432652

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4329:
Smart Structures and Materials 2001: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices
Yoseph Bar-Cohen, Editor(s)