Abstract
Electroactive polymer (EAP) is a new actuation technology with exceptional performance. An especially attractive type of electroactive polymer is dielectric elastomer (DE).
DE, based on the field-induced deformation of elastomeric polymers with compliant electrodes, can produce a large strain response, a fast response time, and high electromechanical efficiency. This unique performance, combined with other factors such as low cost, suggests many potential applications, a wide range of which are under investigation. Applications that effectively exploit the properties of DEs include artificial muscle actuators for robots (especially mobile and biomimetic robots on land, sea, and air); low-cost, lightweight linear actuators; inchworms, micro light scanners, and microfluidics, solid-state optical devices; diaphragm actuators for pumps, displays, and smart skins; acoustic actuators; and rotary motors. Dielectric elastomers may also be used to generate electrical power from mechanical deformation.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Pelrine R, Chiba S (1992) Review of artificial muscle approaches. In: Proceedings of third international symposium on micromachine and human science, Nagoya, Japan
Pelrine R, Kornbluh R, Chiba S et al (1999) High-field deformation of elastomeric dielectrics for actuators. In: Proceedings 6th SPIE symposium on smart structure and materials, vol 3669, pp 149–161
Oguro K., Fujiwara N, Asaka K, Onishi K, Sewa S (1999) Polymer electrolyte actuator with gold electrodes. In: Proceedings of the SPIE’s 6th annual international symposium on smart structures and materials, SPIE of proceedings, vol 3669, pp 64–71
Otero TF, Sansiñena JM (1998) Soft and wet conducting polymers for artificial muscles. Adv Mater 10(6):491–494
Osada Y, Okuzaki H, Hori H (1992) A polymer gel with electrically driven motility. Nature 355:242–244
Tomori H et al (2011) Theoretical comparison of McKibben-type artificial muscle and novel straight-fiber-type artificial muscle. Int J Autom Technol 5(4):544
Chiba S (2010) Application development of artificial muscle actuators. Electron Mater 49(7):34–41
Kornbluh R, Pelrine R, Chiba S (2004) Silicon to silicon: stretching the capabilities of micromachines with electroactive polymers. IEEJ Trans SM 124(8):266–271
Chiba S, Waki M, Kormbluh R, Pelrine R (2008) Innovative power generators for energy harvesting using electroactive polymer artificial muscles. In Bar-Cohen Y (ed) Electroactive polymer actuators and devices (EAPAD) 2008, Proceedings of SPIE, vol 6927, 692715 (1–9)
Chiba S, Stanford S, Pelrine R, Kornbluh R, Prahlad H (2006) Electroactive polymer artificial muscle. JRSJ 24(4):38–42
Chiba S et al (2016) Elastomer transducers. In: Advances in science and technology. Trans Tech Publication, Switzerland, vol 97, pp 61–74. https://doi.org/10.4028/wwwscienctific.net/AST.97.61. ISSN: 1662-0356
Chiba S (2002) MEMS and NEMS applications of dielecric elastomer and future trends. Electron Packag Technol 18(1):32–38
Chiba S (2017) Chapter 1: Dielectric elastomer actuators. In: Development of soft actuators and application, control technology for practical application, CMC Press, Japan, pp 9–21
Kornbluh R, Bashkin J, Pelrine R, Prahlad H, Chiba S (2004) Medical applications of new electroactive polymer artificial muscles. Seikei-Kakou 16(10):631–637
Chiba S (2014) Chapter 13: Dielectric elastomers. In: Soft actuators, Springer, Japan
Zhou J, Jiang L, Khayat R (2016) Dynamic analysis of a tunable viscoelastic dielectric elastomer oscillator under external excitation. Smart Mater Struct 25(2):025005
Ashida K, Ichiki M, Tanaka M, Kitahara T (2000) Power generation using piezo element: energy conversion efficiency of piezo element. In: Proceedings of JAME annual meeting, pp 139–40
Zurkinden A, Campanile F, Martinelli L (2007) Wave energy converter through piezoelectric polymers. In: Proceedings COMSOL user conference 2007, Grenoble, France
Jean-Mistral C, Basrour S, Chaillout J (2010) Comparison of electroactive polymer for energy scavenging applications. Smart Mater Struct 19(19):085012
Chiba S, Waki M, Wada T, Hirakawa Y, Masuda K, Ikoma T (2013) Consistent Ocean wave energy harvesting using electroactive polymer (dielectric elastomer) artificial muscle generators. Appl Energy 104:497–502. ISSN 0306-2619
Waki M, Chiba S, Song Z, Ohyama K, Shijie Z (2017) Experimental investigation on the power generation performance of dielectric elastomer water power generation mounted on a square type floating body. J Mater Sci Eng B 7(9–10):179–186. https://doi.org/10.17265/2161-6221/2017.9-10.001
Chiba S, Hasegawa K, Waki M, Kurita S (2017) Experimental study on the motion of floating bodies arranged in series for wave power generation. J Mater Sci Eng A 7(11–12):281–289. https://doi.org/10.17265/2161-6213/2017.11-12.001
Chiba S et al (2007) Extending applications of dielectric elastomer artificial muscle. In: Proceedings of SPIE, San Diego, March 18–22
Chiba S, Pelrine R, Kornbluh R, Prahlad H, Stanford S, Eckerle J (2007) New opportunities in electric power generation using electroactive polymers (EPAM). J Jpn Inst Energy 86(9):743–737
Chiba S, Hasegawa K, Waki M, Fujita K, Ohyama K, Shijie Z (2017) Innovative elastomer transducer driven by karman vortices in water flow. J Mater Sci Eng A 7(5–6):121–135. https://doi.org/10.17265/2161-6213/2017.5-6.002
Chiba S, Kornbluh R, Pelrine R, Waki M (2008) Low-cost hydrogen production from electroactive polymer artificial muscle wave power generators. In: Proceedings of world hydrogen energy conference 2008, Brisbane, Australia, June 16–20, 2008
Chiba S et al (2007) Electroactive polymer artificial muscles. Eco design 2007, Japan, 2007–12
Chiba S, Waki M, Fujita K, Masuda K, Ikoma T (2017) Simple and robust direct drive water power generation system using dielectric elastomers. J Mater Sci Eng B7(1–2):39–47. https://doi.org/10.17265/2161-6213/2017.1-2.005
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Chiba, S. (2019). Dielectric Elastomers. In: Asaka, K., Okuzaki, H. (eds) Soft Actuators. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6850-9_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6850-9_14
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-6849-3
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-6850-9
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)