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Bistable Electroactive Polymers

Detailed Technology Description

None

Supplementary Information

Patent Number: US8237324B2
Application Number: US2009635674A
Inventor: Pei, Qibing | Yu, Zhibin
Priority Date: 10 Dec 2008
Priority Number: US8237324B2
Application Date: 10 Dec 2009
Publication Date: 7 Aug 2012
IPC Current: H02N000300 | H01L004104
US Class: 310306 | 310346
Assignee Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
Title: Bistable electroactive polymers
Usefulness: Bistable electroactive polymers
Summary: As a bistable transducer (claimed) for electrically actuated deformation of rigid electroactive polymer members; can be adapted to many different uses such as with robotics, motor, pump, toy, actuator, generator, sensor, medical implant or prosthetic device, solar cell positioning system, Braille display, electrically tunable diffraction grating, unimorph and bimorph applications.
Novelty: Transducer for bistable actuation comprises two electrodes joined to polymer members to produce electric field, where polymer softens and deforms with increase in temperature and retains deformed shape below transition temperature

Industry

Environmental/Green Technology

Sub Category

Solar Cell

Application No.

8237324

Others

Additional Technologies by these Inventors

• Regioregular Copolymers of 3-alkoxythiophene and their Photovoltaic Application
• New Materials for the Formation of Polymer Junction Diodes
• Bulk Polymer Composites
• Thermally Stable Silver Nanowire Transparent Electrode
• Transparent Bulk Photoluminescent Quantum Dots/Polymer Nanocomposite

Tech ID/UC Case

22319/2009-356-0

Related Cases

2009-356-0

*Abstract

A bistable electroactive polymer transducer is provided for electrically actuated deformation of rigid electroactive polymer members. The polymers have glass transition temperatures (Tg) above ambient conditions and turn into rubbery elastomers above Tg and have high dielectric breakdown strength in the rubbery state. They can be electrically deformed to various rigid shapes with maximum strain greater than 100% and as high as 400%. The actuation is made bistable by cooling below Tg to preserve the deformation. The dielectric actuation mechanism includes a pair of compliant electrodes in contact with a dielectric elastomer which deforms when a voltage bias is applied between the pair of electrodes. In some of the transducers of the present invention, the dielectric elastomer is also a shape memory polymer. The deformations of such bistable electroactive polymers can be repeated rapidly for numerous cycles. The polymer transducers have such advantages as high energy and power densities, quietness, mechanical compliancy (for shock resistance and impedance matching), high efficiency, lightweight, and low cost.

*IP Issue Date

Aug 7, 2012

*Principal Investigator

Name: Qibing Pei

Department:

Name: Zhibin Yu

Department:

Country/Region

USA