This paper presents electrically activated paper actuators that can produce a large displacement in the presence of electrical field. This active material is termed as electro-active paper (EAPap). EAPap is made with a chemically treated paper by constructing thin electrodes on both sides of the paper. When 2kV/mm of excitation voltage was applied, more than 3mm of tip displacement was observed out of the 30 mm long paper beam. The principle that dictates the actuation of EAPap seems to be more based on ionic migration effect associated with the reaction of the constituents of the paper. Details of the experiments and results are addressed.

Date Published: 13 November 2002
PDF: 5 pages
Proc. SPIE 4934, Smart Materials II, (13 November 2002);

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4934:
Smart Materials II
Alan R. Wilson, Editor(s)