Bistable electroactive polymers

US8237324B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Qibing Pei · Fremont, US
• Zhibin Yu · Unterhaching, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 10, 2009
• Grant date: Aug 7, 2012
• Expiry date: Aug 8, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10N30/857
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A bistable electroactive polymer transducer is provided for electrically actuated deformation of rigid electroactive polymer members. The polymers have glass transition temperatures (Tg) above ambient conditions and turn into rubbery elastomers above Tg and have high dielectric breakdown strength in the rubbery state. They can be electrically deformed to various rigid shapes with maximum strain greater than 100% and as high as 400%. The actuation is made bistable by cooling below Tg to preserve the deformation. The dielectric actuation mechanism includes a pair of compliant electrodes in contact with a dielectric elastomer which deforms when a voltage bias is applied between the pair of electrodes. In some of the configurations, the dielectric elastomer is also a shape memory polymer. The deformations of such bistable electroactive polymers can be repeated rapidly for numerous cycles.