A Biomimetic Approach to Increasing Soft Actuator Performance by Friction Reduction
While increasing power output is the most straight-forward solution for faster and stronger motion in technology, sports, or elsewhere, efficiency is what separates the best from the rest. In nature, where the possibilities of power increase are limited, efficiency of motion is particularly importan...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/5/1120 |
| _version_ | 1797568007856193536 |
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| author | Nguyen Quang Khuyen Rudolf Kiefer Fred Elhi Gholamreza Anbarjafari Jose G. Martinez Tarmo Tamm |
| author_facet | Nguyen Quang Khuyen Rudolf Kiefer Fred Elhi Gholamreza Anbarjafari Jose G. Martinez Tarmo Tamm |
| author_sort | Nguyen Quang Khuyen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | While increasing power output is the most straight-forward solution for faster and stronger motion in technology, sports, or elsewhere, efficiency is what separates the best from the rest. In nature, where the possibilities of power increase are limited, efficiency of motion is particularly important; the same principle can be applied to the emerging biomimetic and bio-interacting technologies. In this work, by applying hints from nature, we consider possible approaches of increasing the efficiency of motion through liquid medium of bilayer ionic electroactive polymer actuations, focusing on the reduction of friction by means of surface tension and hydrophobicity. Conducting polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bilayers were chosen as the model actuator system. The actuation medium consisted of aqueous solutions containing tetramethylammonium chloride and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate in different ratios. The roles of ion concentrations and the surface tension are discussed. Hydrophobicity of the PET support layer was further tuned by adding a spin-coated silicone layer to it. As expected, both approaches increased the displacement—the best results having been obtained by combining both, nearly doubling the bending displacement. The simple approaches for greatly increasing actuation motion efficiency can be used in any actuator system operating in a liquid medium. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:50:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18f97966a0f844e49ea669235e391315 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:50:17Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-18f97966a0f844e49ea669235e3913152023-11-20T00:24:34ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602020-05-01125112010.3390/polym12051120A Biomimetic Approach to Increasing Soft Actuator Performance by Friction ReductionNguyen Quang Khuyen0Rudolf Kiefer1Fred Elhi2Gholamreza Anbarjafari3Jose G. Martinez4Tarmo Tamm5Conducting Polymers in Composites and Applications Research Group, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, VietnamConducting Polymers in Composites and Applications Research Group, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, VietnamIntelligent Materials and System Lab, Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, EstoniaiCV Research Lab, Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, EstoniaDivision of Sensor and Actuator Systems, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, SwedenIntelligent Materials and System Lab, Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, EstoniaWhile increasing power output is the most straight-forward solution for faster and stronger motion in technology, sports, or elsewhere, efficiency is what separates the best from the rest. In nature, where the possibilities of power increase are limited, efficiency of motion is particularly important; the same principle can be applied to the emerging biomimetic and bio-interacting technologies. In this work, by applying hints from nature, we consider possible approaches of increasing the efficiency of motion through liquid medium of bilayer ionic electroactive polymer actuations, focusing on the reduction of friction by means of surface tension and hydrophobicity. Conducting polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bilayers were chosen as the model actuator system. The actuation medium consisted of aqueous solutions containing tetramethylammonium chloride and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate in different ratios. The roles of ion concentrations and the surface tension are discussed. Hydrophobicity of the PET support layer was further tuned by adding a spin-coated silicone layer to it. As expected, both approaches increased the displacement—the best results having been obtained by combining both, nearly doubling the bending displacement. The simple approaches for greatly increasing actuation motion efficiency can be used in any actuator system operating in a liquid medium.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/5/1120PDMSPET-PPybilayeractuation efficiencycontact anglehydrophobic surface |
| spellingShingle | Nguyen Quang Khuyen Rudolf Kiefer Fred Elhi Gholamreza Anbarjafari Jose G. Martinez Tarmo Tamm A Biomimetic Approach to Increasing Soft Actuator Performance by Friction Reduction Polymers PDMS PET-PPy bilayer actuation efficiency contact angle hydrophobic surface |
| title | A Biomimetic Approach to Increasing Soft Actuator Performance by Friction Reduction |
| title_full | A Biomimetic Approach to Increasing Soft Actuator Performance by Friction Reduction |
| title_fullStr | A Biomimetic Approach to Increasing Soft Actuator Performance by Friction Reduction |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Biomimetic Approach to Increasing Soft Actuator Performance by Friction Reduction |
| title_short | A Biomimetic Approach to Increasing Soft Actuator Performance by Friction Reduction |
| title_sort | biomimetic approach to increasing soft actuator performance by friction reduction |
| topic | PDMS PET-PPy bilayer actuation efficiency contact angle hydrophobic surface |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/5/1120 |
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