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A Study on the Electromechanical/Dielectric Response of Poly(ethylene oxide)-Nanocrystalline-Cellulose Composites and Polyvinylidene Fluoride Electroactive Polymers


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dc.contributor.advisorCheng, Zhongyangen_US
dc.contributor.authorBass, Patricken_US
dc.date.accessioned2016-05-05T15:42:42Z
dc.date.available2016-05-05T15:42:42Z
dc.date.issued2016-05-05
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10415/5138
dc.description.abstractThe study of electroactive polymers (EAPs) has garnered a lot of attention over the past two decades for their ability to generate large electromechanical actuation responses without the need for any moving parts, external motors or servos. These types of materials are lightweight, they can be formed into almost any shape, and they operate simply through the application of an external electric field. They have possible applications in robotics, prosthetics, microfluidics, etc., making them an exciting material that can be utilized in a broad range of applications. Ionic polymer metallic composite (IPMC) are EAPs that function based off of the motion of ions through a parent polymer matrix. The inherent size difference between the transiting ions generates localized volume changes between the two sides of the polymer film resulting in an observed bending response. Though, there has been a large amount of research focused on these actuators, there are still fundamental questions with respect to their operation that have yet to be answered. The following dissertation proposes new methodologies for tackling some of these questions. Research initiatives focused on the creation and synthesis of environmentally friendly and biodegradable green IPMCs, modeling the time-dependent electromechanical response for use with a variety of IPMCs, developing a remote sensing capability for monitoring IPMC actuation using changes in their dielectric properties, investigating whether IPMCs could be used as energy storage devices, and finally, identifying a new and unique two-phased IPMC bending response that could possibly pave the way for different and exciting areas of application and research. As such, a series of experiments were conducted to understand and model the electromechanical performance and dielectric response of EAPs made of biodegradable poly(ethylene oxide) with nanocrystalline cellulose used as a mechanical-stiffening filler, as well as with non-biodegradable polyvinylidene fluoride films. Through the investigation of the experimental results, the work herein will provide insight into the actuation and dielectric behavior of IPMC EAPs. Intrinsic research into the nature of the dielectric properties of materials will also be conducted. In all, and through vetting the results against others’ models and methods, a broadened understanding of these types of materials and their resulting characteristics is obtained. As such, a series of experiments were conducted to understand and model the electromechanical performance and dielectric response of EAPs made of biodegradable poly(ethylene oxide) with nanocrystalline cellulose used as a mechanical-stiffening filler, as well as with non-biodegradable polyvinylidene fluoride films. Through the investigation of the experimental results, the work herein will provide insight into the actuation and dielectric behavior of IPMC EAPs. Intrinsic research into the nature of the dielectric properties of materials will also be conducted. In all, and through vetting the results against others’ models and methods, a broadened understanding of these types of materials and their resulting characteristics is obtained.en_US
dc.rightsEMBARGO_NOT_AUBURNen_US
dc.subjectMaterials Engineeringen_US
dc.titleA Study on the Electromechanical/Dielectric Response of Poly(ethylene oxide)-Nanocrystalline-Cellulose Composites and Polyvinylidene Fluoride Electroactive Polymersen_US
dc.typeDissertationen_US
dc.embargo.lengthMONTHS_WITHHELD:61en_US
dc.embargo.statusEMBARGOEDen_US
dc.embargo.enddate2021-05-05en_US
dc.contributor.committeeTu, Maobingen_US
dc.contributor.committeeProrok, Bartonen_US
dc.contributor.committeeKim, Dong-Jooen_US
dc.contributor.committeeBeidaghi, Majiden_US

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