IPMC-based actuators: An approach for measuring a linear form of its static equation

Abstract

Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites (IPMCs) are smart materials used as actuators, sensors, and energy harvesters. They are known as a subset of Electroactive Polymers (EAPs). IPMCs structure is layered with one polymer layer and two of electrodes. In this paper, the actuation behavior of an IPMC sample with platinum electrodes and Nafion-117 polymer is of the interest and two diverse methods have been applied; This microelectromechanical system which is used in this paper is manufactured initially, and then the experimental method was applied besides the finite element method. According to the experimental analysis, the maximum displacement of a cantilever model of the IPMC in various lengths and different amounts of voltages is measured and recorded. The experimental method is used to validate the finite element method results. By using Linear Regression with the Ordinary-Least- Squares method, a linear equation is derived that will provide the maximum displacement of a cantilever beam model of the IPMC in varying lengths and different applied Voltages. This equation can be a special-occasion alteration for the specific application of Poisson- Nernst-Plank equation. This multi-input linear equation can predict ionic polymer-metal composite attitude accurately.

Keywords

• MicroElectromechanical systems (MEMS)
• Static characteristics
• Linear systems
• Experimental mechanics
• Finite element analysis (FEA)
• Prediction model