Electrostrictive graft elastomers

US6515077B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Ji Su · Highland Park, US
• Joycelyn S. Harrison · Hampton, US
• Terry L. St. Clair · Poquoson, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 23, 2000
• Grant date: Feb 4, 2003
• Expiry date: Oct 23, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10N30/2047
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An electrostrictive graft elastomer has a backbone molecule which is a non-crystallizable, flexible macromolecular chain and a grafted polymer forming polar graft moieties with backbone molecules. The polar graft moieties have been rotated by an applied electric field, e.g., into substantial polar alignment. The rotation is sustained until the electric field is removed. In another embodiment, a process for producing strain in an elastomer includes: (a) providing a graft elastomer having a backbone molecule which is a non-crystallizable, flexible macromolecular chain and a grafted polymer forming polar graft moieties with backbone molecules; and (b) applying an electric field to the graft elastomer to rotate the polar graft moieties, e.g., into substantial polar alignment.