Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Single PAN fiber
Load cell
Linear
motor
FIGURE 4.131
Single PAN fiber tensile machine setup.
fiber is slowly pulled downward by a linear motor (Razel
). This experiment was
useful to achieve reliable mechanical property data of a single PAN fiber. Note that
a test with a bundle of PAN fibers is very tricky and depends on the fabrication and
assembly of fibers in the bundle.
3
4.6.14
E
FFECTS
OF
E
LECTRODE
D
ETERIORATION
ON
F
ORCE
G
ENERATION
The corrosion of electrodes has made significant impurities in the electrolytic solu-
tion and obstructed the process. Since these could be the cause of slow response
time of PAN muscles, the material of electrodes was changed for the anode and the
cathode sides. Electrodes were made of titanium (99.7%). Ruthenium dioxide and
iridium dioxide were coated for the anode electrode with the sol-gel method. Both
electrodes have mesh structure to increase contact surface and effectiveness. On top
of that an ion diaphragm is selected to prevent direct contact between hydrogen ions
and hydroxide ions and enhance local pH concentration. Dimensions are shown in
figure 4.132. As shown in figures 4.133 and 4.134, anode and cathode sides are
isolated by the ion diaphragm. Figure 4.135 depicts the results of force generation
by pH and voltage.
FIGURE 4.132
New electrodes for anode (left) and cathode (right).
