Feasibility study of actuators and sensors using electroactive polymers reinforced with carbon nanotubes

Arun Ramaratnam; Nader Jalili

doi:10.1117/12.539580

27 July 2004 Feasibility study of actuators and sensors using electroactive polymers reinforced with carbon nanotubes

Arun Ramaratnam, Nader Jalili

Proceedings Volume 5385, Smart Structures and Materials 2004: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD); (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.539580
Event: Smart Structures and Materials, 2004, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Electro-active polymers reinforced with carbon nanotubes have attracted many researchers in the recent years. Recent activities in this area show that conducting polymers with carbon nanotubes in an electrolytic medium possess actuation and sensing properties due to the change in bond length in the carbon atoms. However, their applications are limited due to their operation in a wet medium. In this paper, we explore the feasibility of electro-active polymers with dispersed carbon nanotubes that can be used for actuation and sensing in a dry medium like air to make them viable. Different polymer composites are considered for mixing with single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes manufactured by chemical vapor deposition technique. Various dispersing techniques for aligning the carbon nanotubes like smart blending and chaotic mixing are also explored. The feasibility of actuation and sensing of these composites are verified by experimentation on several macrosystems comprised of these functional nanostructures.

Citation Download Citation

Arun Ramaratnam and Nader Jalili "Feasibility study of actuators and sensors using electroactive polymers reinforced with carbon nanotubes", Proc. SPIE 5385, Smart Structures and Materials 2004: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD), (27 July 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.539580

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available