Ionic electroactive polymer artificial muscles in space applications

Andres Punning; Kwang J Kim; Viljar Palmre; Frédéric Vidal; Cédric Plesse; Nicolas Festin; Ali Maziz; Kinji Asaka; Takushi Sugino; Gursel Alici; Geoff Spinks; Gordon Wallace; Indrek Must; Inga Põldsalu; Veiko Vunder; Rauno Temmer; Karl Kruusamäe; Janno Torop; Friedrich Kaasik; Pille Rinne; Urmas Johanson; Anna-Liisa Peikolainen; Tarmo Tamm; Alvo Aabloo

doi:10.1038/srep06913

Ionic electroactive polymer artificial muscles in space applications

Sci Rep. 2014 Nov 5:4:6913. doi: 10.1038/srep06913.

Authors

Andres Punning¹, Kwang J Kim², Viljar Palmre³, Frédéric Vidal⁴, Cédric Plesse⁴, Nicolas Festin⁴, Ali Maziz⁴, Kinji Asaka⁵, Takushi Sugino⁵, Gursel Alici⁶, Geoff Spinks⁶, Gordon Wallace⁷, Indrek Must¹, Inga Põldsalu¹, Veiko Vunder¹, Rauno Temmer¹, Karl Kruusamäe¹, Janno Torop¹, Friedrich Kaasik¹, Pille Rinne¹, Urmas Johanson¹, Anna-Liisa Peikolainen¹, Tarmo Tamm¹, Alvo Aabloo¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Estonia.
² Active Materials and Smart Living (AMSL) Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA.
³ 1] Active Materials and Smart Living (AMSL) Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA [2] Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA.
⁴ Laboratoire de Physicochimie des Polymères et des Interfaces, Institut des Matèriaux, Université de Cergy-Pontoise, Cergy, France.
⁵ Health Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Osaka, Japan.
⁶ 1] School of Mechanical, Materials and Mechatronic Engineering, University of Wollongong, Australia [2] ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), University of Wollongong, Australia.
⁷ ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), University of Wollongong, Australia.

Abstract

A large-scale effort was carried out to test the performance of seven types of ionic electroactive polymer (IEAP) actuators in space-hazardous environmental factors in laboratory conditions. The results substantiate that the IEAP materials are tolerant to long-term freezing and vacuum environments as well as ionizing Gamma-, X-ray, and UV radiation at the levels corresponding to low Earth orbit (LEO) conditions. The main aim of this material behaviour investigation is to understand and predict device service time for prolonged exposure to space environment.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Artificial Organs*
Cosmic Radiation
Earth, Planet
Electrochemical Techniques
Electrolytes / chemistry*
Electrolytes / radiation effects
Equipment Design
Equipment Failure Analysis
Extraterrestrial Environment
Freezing
Gamma Rays
Humans
Materials Testing
Muscles / physiology
Polymers / chemistry*
Polymers / radiation effects
Space Flight
Space Simulation / instrumentation*
Ultraviolet Rays
X-Rays

Substances

Electrolytes
Polymers