Classes of Electroactive Polymer Materials

There are different classes of electroactive polymer materials. There are electronic EAP, ionic EAP, carbon nanotube actuators and conductive polymer actuators.

Recent research work has allowed us to enhance the E-M performance using electroactive polymers. These electroactive polymers have better electro-magnetic performance than crystals and ceramics. This has led to the creation of many devices including actuators, sensors, and transducers. Electric EAPs are further classified into ferroelectric polymers, dielectric EAP, and electro-viscoelastic elastomers. Among the ferroelectric polymer actuators, the most common copolymer is the poly (vinylidene fluoride) or PVDF. These polymers, most commonly used as sheets, have metallic electrodes that increase the stiffness and decrease the piezoelectric response [1]. Key advantages of using a ferroelectric material are that they can be operated in air, vacuum or water and within a wide range of temperatures. Dielectric EAPs are materials in which actuation is caused by electrostatic forces. Dielectric elastomers have a polymer film between two electrodes. As seen in figure 5, when an electric field is induced between the electrodes, the shape of the elastomer changes, which aids in the use of these as actuators. When a dielectric material is subjected to an electric field, positive and negative charges appear on its surfaces. This generates a coulombic force, which in turn generates a stress, which results in a strain response. The most popular type of electric EAP in today’s world, however, is the electro-viscoelastic elastomer. These materials are composite of silicone elastomers and a polar phase. As an electric field is applied to a viscoelastic elastomer, the shear modulus changes. Electric EAPs can operate for long periods of time, with rapid response times. They can also handle high strains if a voltage is applied, however, they require high voltages upwards of 150Mv per m, and have low glass transition temperature, which limits how low the temperature can be [2].

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