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
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftware
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcomposites
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- engineering and technologycivil engineeringstructural engineeringearthquake engineering
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringrobotics
Keywords
Call for proposal
FP6-2002-NMP-1
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
STREP - Specific Targeted Research ProjectCoordinator
CATANIA
Italy