Purpose: The accurate selection of materials and the fine tuning of their properties represent a fundamental aspect in the realization of new active systems able to produce actuating forces, such as artificial muscles. In this regard, exciting opportunities for the design of new advanced systems are offered by materials belonging to the emerging class of functional polymers: exploiting their actuation response, specific devices can be realized. Along this direction, materials showing either shape-memory effect (SME) or shape-change effect (SCE) have been the subject of extensive studies aimed at designing of actuators as artificial muscles. Here, we concisely review active polymers in terms of properties and main applications in artificial muscle design. Structure: The main aspects related to material properties in both shape-memory polymers (SMPs) and electroactive polymers (EAPs) are reviewed, based on recent scientific literature. SME in thermally activated SMPs is presented by preliminarily providing a definition that encompasses the new theories regarding their fundamental properties. EAPs are briefly presented, describing the working mechanisms and highlighting the main properties and drawbacks, in view of their application as actuators. For both classes of materials, some key examples of effective application in artificial muscles are offered. Outlook: The potential in polymer architecture design for the fabrication of actively moving systems is described to give a perspective on the main achievements and new research activities.

Polymeric materials as artificial muscles: An overview

DRAGHI, LORENZA;DE NARDO, LUIGI;
2015-01-01

Abstract

Purpose: The accurate selection of materials and the fine tuning of their properties represent a fundamental aspect in the realization of new active systems able to produce actuating forces, such as artificial muscles. In this regard, exciting opportunities for the design of new advanced systems are offered by materials belonging to the emerging class of functional polymers: exploiting their actuation response, specific devices can be realized. Along this direction, materials showing either shape-memory effect (SME) or shape-change effect (SCE) have been the subject of extensive studies aimed at designing of actuators as artificial muscles. Here, we concisely review active polymers in terms of properties and main applications in artificial muscle design. Structure: The main aspects related to material properties in both shape-memory polymers (SMPs) and electroactive polymers (EAPs) are reviewed, based on recent scientific literature. SME in thermally activated SMPs is presented by preliminarily providing a definition that encompasses the new theories regarding their fundamental properties. EAPs are briefly presented, describing the working mechanisms and highlighting the main properties and drawbacks, in view of their application as actuators. For both classes of materials, some key examples of effective application in artificial muscles are offered. Outlook: The potential in polymer architecture design for the fabrication of actively moving systems is described to give a perspective on the main achievements and new research activities.
2015
Artificial muscle; Biomimicry; Electroactive polymers; Shape-memory polymers; Animals; Biomimetic Materials; Humans; Polymers; Artificial Organs; Models, Biological; Muscles; Biophysics; Bioengineering; Biomedical Engineering; Biomaterials
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
JABFM_2015_1_1-9_JABFM-D-13-00010.pdf

Accesso riservato

: Publisher’s version
Dimensione 256.53 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
256.53 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri
Polymeric materials as artificial muscles-An overview_11311-989771_De Nardo.pdf

accesso aperto

: Post-Print (DRAFT o Author’s Accepted Manuscript-AAM)
Dimensione 574.72 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
574.72 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11311/989771
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 3
  • Scopus 27
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 25
social impact