Effect of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on the electromechanical response of a polyimide nanocomposite

Sujay Deshmukh; Chris Call; Zoubeida Ounaies; Cheol Park; Joycelyn S. Harrison

doi:10.1117/12.658673

15 March 2006 Effect of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on the electromechanical response of a polyimide nanocomposite

Sujay Deshmukh, Chris Call, Zoubeida Ounaies, Cheol Park, Joycelyn S. Harrison

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6168, Smart Structures and Materials 2006: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD); 61680Y (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.658673
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2006, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The focus of this paper is on our experimental observation that addition of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) to a non-polar polyimide induces an electromechanical behavior, where bending strains are observed in response to applied electric fields. Percolation studies are carried on the nanocomposites. The samples used for studying actuation are above the percolation threshold. The electromechanical mechanism is identified as electrostriction, and the coefficients of electrostriction are calculated under different conditions of SWNT loading and applied electric fields. The electrostriction is believed to be a result of induced polarization in these materials, which shows an increase with the SWNT content. Furthermore, the polarizability of SWNTs modifies the local electric field in the surrounding polymer matrix, resulting in a low actuation voltage.

Citation Download Citation

Sujay Deshmukh, Chris Call, Zoubeida Ounaies, Cheol Park, and Joycelyn S. Harrison "Effect of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on the electromechanical response of a polyimide nanocomposite", Proc. SPIE 6168, Smart Structures and Materials 2006: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD), 61680Y (15 March 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.658673

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