Investigation of Ionic Polymer Metal Composite Actuators Loaded with Various Tetraethyl Orthosilicate Contents  

作　　者：Qingsong He Min Yu Yuxiu Li Yan Ding Dongjie Guo Zhendong Dai 

机构地区：[1]Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics ＆ Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, P. R. China [2]College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics ＆ Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, P. R. China

出　　处：《Journal of Bionic Engineering》2012年第1期75-83,共9页仿生工程学报（英文版）

基　　金：The authors are grateful for the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Grant No： 50705043, 51175251, 61161120323）, the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province （Grant No. BK2011734）, the Funding for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation in NUAA （Grant No： BCXJ11-06）, and the Funding of Jiangsu Innovation Program for Graduate Education （Grant No： CXLX 11_0178）.

摘　　要：Ionic Polymer Metal Composite （IPMC） can be used as an electrically activated actuator, which has been widely used in artificial muscles, bionic robotic actuators, and dynamic sensors since it has the advantages of large deformation, light weight, flexibility, and low driving voltage, etc. To further improve the mechanical properties of IPMC, this paper reports a new method for preparing organic-inorganic hybrid Nafion/SiO2 membranes. Beginning from cast Nation membranes, IPMCs with various tetraethyl orthosilicate （TEOS） contents were fabricated by electroless plating. The elastic moduli of cast Nation membranes were measured with nano indenters, the water contents were calculated, and the cross sections of Nation membranes were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The blocking force, the displacement, and the electric current of IPMCs were then measured on a test apparatus. The results show that the blocking force increases as the TEOS content gradually increases, and that both the displacement and the electric current initially decrease, then increase. When the TEOS content is 1.5%, the IPMC shows the best improved mechanical properties. Finally, the IPMC with the best improved performance was used to successfully actuate the artificial eye and tested.Ionic Polymer Metal Composite （IPMC） can be used as an electrically activated actuator, which has been widely used in artificial muscles, bionic robotic actuators, and dynamic sensors since it has the advantages of large deformation, light weight, flexibility, and low driving voltage, etc. To further improve the mechanical properties of IPMC, this paper reports a new method for preparing organic-inorganic hybrid Nafion/SiO2 membranes. Beginning from cast Nation membranes, IPMCs with various tetraethyl orthosilicate （TEOS） contents were fabricated by electroless plating. The elastic moduli of cast Nation membranes were measured with nano indenters, the water contents were calculated, and the cross sections of Nation membranes were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The blocking force, the displacement, and the electric current of IPMCs were then measured on a test apparatus. The results show that the blocking force increases as the TEOS content gradually increases, and that both the displacement and the electric current initially decrease, then increase. When the TEOS content is 1.5%, the IPMC shows the best improved mechanical properties. Finally, the IPMC with the best improved performance was used to successfully actuate the artificial eye and tested.

关 键 词：IPMC TEOS mechanical property artificial eye 

分 类 号：TP273[自动化与计算机技术—检测技术与自动化装置] TB331[自动化与计算机技术—控制科学与工程]