Design and manufacturing of high-strain P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE) actuators

Giulio Gallucci, Victor Jaarsma, Andres Hunt*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volumeConference contributionScientificpeer-review

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Abstract

High strains of the relaxor ferroelectric polymers allows to build efficient actuators. While the mechanical impedance of such actuators can be optimized via their morphology, their practical realization requires flexible and versatile fabrication processes. This work devises an efficient procedure for manufacturing unimorph bending actuators basing on the P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE) electroactive polymer (EAP). The fabrication process consists of inkjet printing the Ag electrodes and stencil printing the active P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE) layer. The effect of constituent layer dimensions and properties are analytically modelled to estimate the optimal morphology for highest strains. Actuators are manufactured on polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates and their performance is characterized. On PET substrate, the EAP layer thicknesses of 5 µm up to 24 µm are studied. The PEN-based actuators achieved up to 759 µm deflections in quasi-static (1 Hz, 560 Vpp) and up to 5.95 mm in resonant operation (52 Hz, 550 Vpp). The PET-based actuators achieved up to 486 µm deflections in quasi-static (1 Hz, 980 Vpp) and up to 4.44 mm in resonant operation (116 Hz, 700 Vpp). These results indicate an up to 123% improvement in quasi-static and 60% resonant actuation strains compared to the previously reported similar actuators. Modelling predicts that significantly larger deflections are feasible when fabricating the transducers with optimized morphology.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationElectroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXVI
EditorsJohn D. Madden
PublisherSPIE
Number of pages13
ISBN (Electronic)9781510671966
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024
EventElectroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXVI 2024 - Long Beach, United States
Duration: 25 Mar 202427 Mar 2024

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume12945
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceElectroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXVI 2024
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityLong Beach
Period25/03/2427/03/24

Keywords

  • actuator
  • Electroactive polymer
  • fabrication
  • inkjet printing
  • P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE)
  • relaxor ferroelectric
  • stencil printing
  • structure

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