Polymer fiber actuators

US11629705B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System · US

Inventors

• Na Li · Beijing, CN
• Carter S. Haines · Sachse, US
• Marco D. Lima · Richardson, US
• Monica Jung DeAndrade · Richardson, US
• Shaoli Fang · Richardson, US
• Jiyoung Oh · Richardson, US
• Mikhail Kozlov · Eatontown, US
• Dongseok Suh · Plano, US
• Ray H. Baughman · Morristown, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 21, 2021
• Grant date: Apr 18, 2023
• Expiry date: Sep 21, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/2925
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Actuators (artificial muscles) comprising twist-spun nanofiber yarn or twist-inserted polymer fibers generate actuation when powered electrically, photonically, chemically, thermally, by absorption, or by other means. These artificial muscles utilize polymer fibers non-coiled or coiled yarns and can be either neat or comprising a guest. Devices comprising these artificial muscles are also described. In some embodiments, thermally-powered polymer fiber torsional actuator has a twisted, chain-oriented polymer fiber that has a first degree of twist at a first temperature and a second degree of twist at a second temperature in which the bias angles of the first degree and second degree of twist are substantially different.