Thermal behavior of ionic electroactive polymer actuators

Andres Punning; Indrek Must; Urmas Johanson; Alvo Aabloo

doi:10.1117/12.2084204

1 April 2015 Thermal behavior of ionic electroactive polymer actuators

Andres Punning, Indrek Must, Urmas Johanson, Alvo Aabloo

Proceedings Volume 9430, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2015; 94300E (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2084204
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2015, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The high spatial, temporal, and thermal resolution of the thermal imaging system Optotherm EL InfraSight 320 is used for investigation of the thermal behavior of the ionic electroactive polymer (IEAP) actuators. The resolution of 10-20 pixels in the direction of their thickness is close to the theoretical limit restrained by the infrared light wavelength registered by the imaging system. The videos, recorded with the frame rate of 30 fps, demonstrate showy the propagation of heat along the membrane. The analysis of the thermal images provides the foundation for precise modeling of the IEAP actuators, taking into account the thermally induced mechanical and electrochemical effects. Experiments conducted with the IEAP actuators of different types (ionic polymer-metal composite, carbon-polymer composite, conducting polymer actuators) allow comparing their efficiencies. The experiments show demonstrable, that the IEAPs, used improperly, overheat to the inadmissible temperatures within seconds only. This, in turn, evaporizes the volatile electrolyte, and shortens the life expectancy of the IEAP devices.

Citation Download Citation

Andres Punning, Indrek Must, Urmas Johanson, and Alvo Aabloo "Thermal behavior of ionic electroactive polymer actuators", Proc. SPIE 9430, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2015, 94300E (1 April 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2084204

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