Electrical activation of PAN-Pt artificial muscles

H. Brett Schreyer; Mohsen Shahinpoor; Kwang J. Kim

doi:10.1117/12.349676

28 May 1999 Electrical activation of PAN-Pt artificial muscles

H. Brett Schreyer, Mohsen Shahinpoor, Kwang J. Kim

Proceedings Volume 3669, Smart Structures and Materials 1999: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.349676
Event: 1999 Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, 1999, Newport Beach, CA, United States

Abstract

Activated polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers are known to elongate and contract when immersed in caustic and acidic solutions, respectively. The change in length for these pH activated fibers is greater than 100% and are comparable in strength to human muscle, yet need of strong acids and bases for actuation has limited the use of PAN fibers as linear actuators or artificial muscles. Increasing the conductivity of PAN by depositing platinum within the fibers has allowed for electrical activation of PAN artificial muscles when it is placed in an electrochemical cell. The electrolysis of water in such a cell produces hydrogen ions at a PAN anode, thus locally decreasing the pH and causing the PAN muscle to contract. Reversing the electric field allows the PAN muscle to elongate. A 40% change in PAN muscle length in less than 10 minutes is observed when it is placed as an electrode in a 10 mM NaCl electrolyte solution and connected to a 20 volt power supply. These initial results indicate potential in developing electrically activated PAN muscles and linear actuators, which would be much more applicable than chemically activated PAN.

Citation Download Citation

H. Brett Schreyer, Mohsen Shahinpoor, and Kwang J. Kim "Electrical activation of PAN-Pt artificial muscles", Proc. SPIE 3669, Smart Structures and Materials 1999: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices, (28 May 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.349676

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