Preparation And Electro-mechanical Coupling Modeling For Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC)

Ionic Polymer Metal Composite（IPMC） is a new kind of electric active smart material whichhas large deformation, low density and strong strain capacity. It has the similar damage limitation andmaximum strain with muscle tissues of organisms so that it can be used for simulation. It was calledas the artificial muscle due to this feature, and can be widely applied in simulation, medical treatment,aeronautics and astronautics.The main works and results are as follows:The preparation technology of IPMC: Solution casting method was used to prepare several kindsof ion exchange membranes such as membrane with no impurity, carbon nanotube reinforcedmembrane and barium titanate reinforced membrane. Temperature control method was used toprepare Pt-IPMC, and speed control method was used to prepare Ag-IPMC. The samples werecharacteried to obtain the microscopic morphology, electrode configuration and the relation betweencorresponding pattern and the preparation technology.The basic features of IMPC: The influences of different electrode materials, thickness andreinforced fillers on the aquifer characteristics were studied. The results of the static tensile tests onthe membranes and IPMC showed that the reinforced fillers could greatly improve the elasticitymodulus of IPMC about two times.The sensing and electric properties: The sensing capacity of Ag-IPMC was studied to get thecorresponding impedance characteristics between the frequency and deformation curvature. Theresistance distribution as well as the exciting field distribution inside IPMC were also studied bymeasuring the impedance of IPMC.The actuation performance of IPMC: The deformation features of different samples under directcurrent and alternating current were investigated. The results indicated that there were two kinds ofdeformation types based on the resistance distribution on the surface, one was the variable momentdeformation, and the other was the constant moment deformation. The output features of differentsamples under direct current were also studied. The results confirmed that the reinforced filler couldeffectively enlarge the output force of IPMC by more than eight times.The electromechanical coupling mode of IPMC: The concept of actuating electrical fieldgradient based on the nonuniform bending phenomenon was supposed according to the Irreversiblethermodynamics. The electromechanical coupling mode of IPMC was simplified as the linearequation of gradient electric field and gradient pressure. The pure bending theory was used to depictthe mechanical behaviors of IPMC under electromechanical coupling. The results showed that, this electromechanical coupling mode could predict the bending response of IPMC with the error within±20%.