Long-term degradation of the ionic electroactive polymer actuators

Andres Punning; Indrek Must; Inga Põldsalu; Veiko Vunder; Friedrich Kaasik; Rauno Temmer; Alvo Aabloo

doi:10.1117/12.2084201

1 April 2015 Long-term degradation of the ionic electroactive polymer actuators

Andres Punning, Indrek Must, Inga Põldsalu, Veiko Vunder, Friedrich Kaasik, Rauno Temmer, Alvo Aabloo

Proceedings Volume 9430, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2015; 94300S (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2084201
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2015, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The research is focused on lifetime and degradation of ionic electroactive polymer actuators (IEAP). The lifetime measurements were carried out using identical methodology upon the different IEAP types. The experiment conducted with large number of samples shows that two types of degradation have serious effect to the IEAPs: degradation during operation and spontaneous self-degradation. Additionally, two ways of occasional damage decrease their overall reliability. In the scope of the current paper we describe degradation of two different types of IEAP actuators: with carbonaceous electrodes and with conducting polymer electrodes. Nevertheless, the common evolutionary trends, rather than the comparative data analysis or formal statistics of all particular samples, are given. Analyzing the electromechanical and electrical impedances of the samples during their whole lifetime, we have found that observing the electric current gives adequate information about the degradation level of any IEAP actuator. Moreover, tracking this electrically measurable parameter enables detecting the occasional damage of an actuator.

Citation Download Citation

Andres Punning, Indrek Must, Inga Põldsalu, Veiko Vunder, Friedrich Kaasik, Rauno Temmer, and Alvo Aabloo "Long-term degradation of the ionic electroactive polymer actuators", Proc. SPIE 9430, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2015, 94300S (1 April 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2084201

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