IONIC POLYMER-METAL COMPOSITE AS SENSOR AND ACTUATOR: APPLICATION IN MOTION CONTROL

Objective

The project proposal aims at fabricating an innovative material that is Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite (IPMC), in order to develop prototypes of an artificial muscle and of emotion sensor. To reach the aforesaid objectives, all Participants will conduct a series of theoretical researches and experimental analysis. Imps bend, if a voltage misapplied across their thickness and, vice versa, they generate a voltage signal if mechanically deformed, quasi-statically or dynamically. It is quite evident the possibility to overwork these properties to build both motion actuators and sensors. This kind of materials has a big potentiality in several application fields, such as robotics, biomedical, aerospace, safety and surveillance.
Nevertheless, at the moment those applications are limited by the poor knowledge of the mechanisms, which are involved in the actuation and sensing operative modes, the lack of models able to describe the material behaviour. Comparing this type of materials with other existing ones, such as Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) or Pies Electric Materials (PZT), Epics are lighter, cane activated by low voltage (few volts compared to hundreds of volts of PZT), as a good low frequency response (up to a minimum of hundreds of kHz) and can be produced without using toxic elements, such as Ni, Cod, Pub.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › materials engineering › composites
• natural sciences › computer and information sciences › software
• engineering and technology › civil engineering › structural engineering › earthquake engineering
• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › electronic engineering › sensors

Programme(s)

• FP6-NMP - Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices: thematic priority 3 under the 'Focusing and integrating community research' of the 'Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area' specific programme 2002-2006.

Topic(s)

• NMP-2002-3.4.2.3-1 - New materials by design

Call for proposal

FP6-2002-NMP-1
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project

Coordinator

CONSORZIO CATANIA RICERCHE

Address

Via Santa Maria Del Rosario 9
Catania
Italy

Participants (5)

BIOPHY RESEARCH, SA

France

Address

Zac St Charles
Fuveau

DEIMOS SPACE SL

Spain

Address

Ronda De Poniente,19
Tres Cantos (Madrid)

DIPARTIMENTO DI INGEGNERIA ELETTRICA ELETTRONICA E DEI SISTEMI

Italy

Address

Viale Andrea Doria 6
Catania

ROBOSOFT SA

France

Address

Technopole D'izarbel'
Bidart

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS

United Kingdom

Address

Woodhouse Lane
Leeds,west Yorshire