Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
9
Engineering, Industrial,
and Medical Applications
of Ionic Polymer-Metal
Nanocomposites
9.1
INTRODUCTION
There are numerous potential applications using ionic polymer-metal nanocompos-
ites (IPMNCs) as actuators, artificial muscles, and transducers. In this chapter, some
critical applications using IPMNCs are presented. Industrial, biomedical, and aero-
space applications are identified and discussed along with brief illustrations in the
following sections.
It is certainly clear that the extent of applications of ionic polymeric conductor
nanocomposites (IPCNCs) and IPMNCs go beyond the scope of or space allocated
to this chapter. However, it will present the breadth and the depth of all such
applications of IPCNCs and IPMNCs as biomimetic, robotic, distributed nanosen-
sors, nanoactuators, nanotransducers, and artificial/synthetic muscles.
9.2
ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS
9.2.1
M
G
ECHANICAL
RIPPERS
IPMNCs can be fabricated to act as a micro- or macrogrippers (e.g., tweezers when
two membranes are wired and sandwiched in a way such that they bend in opposing
directions). Figure 9.1 is a perspective view of the mechanical gripper concept
showing two treated IPMNC actuators packaged as an electrically controlled gripper.
The two IPMNC actuators are placed parallel to each other with top surfaces facing
each other. The terminals are attached to the top surface and the bottom surface of
each actuator. Terminals are connected to each other and to one pole of the power
supply by electrical wire. The length of wire depends on the required gap between
the two IPMNC actuators depending on application. The most important advantage
of such IPMNC grippers originates from their intrinsic material softness relative to
conventional actuators.
As also seen in figure 9.1, the fingers are shown as vertical gray bars; the
electrical wiring, where the films are connected back to back, can be seen in the
middle portion of the figure. Upon electrical activation, this wiring configuration
allows the fingers to bend inward or outward, similarly to the operation of a hand,
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