Polymeric blends for sensor and actuation dual functionality

US6689288B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

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

Inventors

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

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 28, 2001
• Grant date: Feb 10, 2004
• Expiry date: Nov 28, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10N30/204
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention described herein supplies a new class of electroactive polymeric blend materials which offer both sensing and actuation dual functionality. The blend comprises two components, one component having a sensing capability and the other component having an actuating capability. These components should be co-processable and coexisting in a phase separated blend system. Specifically, the materials are blends of a sensing component selected from the group consisting of ferroelectric, piezoelectric, pyroelectric and photoelectric polymers and an actuating component that responds to an electric field in terms of dimensional change. Said actuating component includes, but is not limited to, electrostrictive graft elastomers, dielectric electroactive elastomers, liquid crystal electroactive elastomers and field responsive polymeric gels. The sensor functionality and actuation functionality are designed by tailoring the relative fraction of the two components. The temperature dependence of the piezoelectric response and the mechanical toughness of the dual functional blends are also tailored by the composition adjustment.