ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER PRE-STRAIN
First Claim
1. A method for forming an electroactive polymer transducer, the method including:
- providing a composition comprising a precursor for an electroactive polymer and a precursor for a support polymer;
forming the electroactive polymer from the composition;
stretching the electroactive polymer to achieve a pre-strain in a portion of the electroactive polymer;
curing the precursor for the support polymer to form the support polymer in a stiffened portion of the polymer;
disposing a first electrode on a surface portion of a first surface of the electroactive polymer; and
disposing a second electrode on a surface portion of a second surface portion of the electroactive polymer.
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Abstract
The present invention provides electroactive polymers, transducers and devices that maintain pre-strain in one or more portions of an electroactive polymer. Electroactive polymers described herein may include a pre-strained portion and a stiffened portion configured to maintain pre-strain in the pre-strained portion. One fabrication technique applies pre-strain to a partially cured electroactive polymer. The partially cured polymer is then further cured to stiffen and maintain the pre-strain. In another fabrication technique, a support layer is coupled to the polymer that maintains pre-strain in a portion of an electroactive polymer. Another embodiment of the invention cures a polymer precursor to maintain pre-strain in an electroactive polymer.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for forming an electroactive polymer transducer, the method including:
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providing a composition comprising a precursor for an electroactive polymer and a precursor for a support polymer; forming the electroactive polymer from the composition; stretching the electroactive polymer to achieve a pre-strain in a portion of the electroactive polymer; curing the precursor for the support polymer to form the support polymer in a stiffened portion of the polymer; disposing a first electrode on a surface portion of a first surface of the electroactive polymer; and disposing a second electrode on a surface portion of a second surface portion of the electroactive polymer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for forming an electroactive polymer, the method comprising:
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providing a composition comprising a precursor for an electroactive polymer and a precursor for a support polymer; forming the electroactive polymer from the composition; stretching the electroactive polymer to achieve a pre-strain in a portion of the electroactive polymer; and curing the precursor for the support polymer to form the support polymer in a stiffened portion of the polymer. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for forming an electroactive polymer, the method comprising:
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applying a polymer precursor to a surface of a portion of the electroactive polymer; stretching the electroactive polymer to achieve a pre-strain; and curing the polymer precursor to stiffen said portion. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification