A hydrogel actuator with flexible folding deformation and shape programming via using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and acrylic acid. (1st October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Shuiping; Yu, Feng; Dong, Hua; Cao, Xiaodong
• Is Part Of: Carbohydrate polymers. Volume 173(2017)
• Page Start: 526
• Page End: 534
• Publication Date: 2017-10-01
• Subjects: Hydrogel -- Actuator -- Shape-programmable -- Ionic coordination -- Mechanical property; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 547.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.05.061
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8617

Abstract

Highlights: A tough hydrogel actuator with controllable folding deformation has been prepared. Complicated shape deformation can be achieved via the selective implanting method. The extent of folding deformation can be accurately controlled from 0° to 180°. The actuators can be applied to grip objects with different weight and shape. Abstract: Hydrogel actuator is an intelligent material, which can work as artificial muscle. However, most present hydrogel actuators, due to the inferior mechanical property and uncontrolled folding property, have always resulted in slipping off or the failure of grasping an object with specific shape and required weight. In order to solve this problem, here a tough hydrogel actuator with programmable folding deformation has been prepared by combining the "selective implanting method" and "ionic coordination". The shape and folding angle (from 0 to 180 o ) of hydrogel actuator can be precisely controlled by altering the location and size of the implanting parts that seems like the joints of finger. The ionic coordination is not only the force to trigger the folding of hydrogel, but also utilized to reinforce the mechanical property. We believed the superior mechanical and shape-programmable property can endow the hydrogel actuator with great application prospect in soft machine.