ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER PRE-STRAIN

The present invention provides electroactive polymers, transducers and devices that maintain pre-strain in one or more portions of an electroactive polymer. Electroactive polymers described herein may include a pre-strained portion and a stiffened portion configured to maintain pre-strain in the pre...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors PEI, QIBING, ROSENTHAL, MARCUS, PELRINE, RONALD, E
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
French
German
Published 10.12.2008
Subjects
CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
ELECTRICITY
GENERATION
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Summary:The present invention provides electroactive polymers, transducers and devices that maintain pre-strain in one or more portions of an electroactive polymer. Electroactive polymers described herein may include a pre-strained portion and a stiffened portion configured to maintain pre-strain in the pre-strained portion. One fabrication technique applies pre-strain to a partially cured electroactive polymer. The partially cured polymer is then further cured to stiffen and maintain the pre-strain. In another fabrication technique, a support layer is coupled to the polymer that maintains pre-strain in a portion of an electroactive polymer. Another embodiment of the invention cures a polymer precursor to maintain pre-strain in an electroactive polymer.
Bibliography:Application Number: EP20040821599