Hydrogel Actuators as Responsive Instruments for Cheap Open Technology (HARICOT). (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Velders, Aldrik H.; Dijksman, Joshua A.; Saggiomo, Vittorio
• Is Part Of: Applied materials today. Volume 9(2017)
• Page Start: 271
• Page End: 275
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Actuators -- Hydrogel -- Open technology -- Swelling; Materials science -- Periodicals; Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apmt.2017.08.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-9407

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: An easy and cheap fabrication methodology for hydrogel actuators is presented. The HARICOT method uses cheap commercially available hydrogel beads toys and various strain-directing layers. The methodology is versatile in terms of mixed materials actuators as well as in terms of actuator movements, from bending to spiraling to muscle-like movements. Abstract: Hydrogel actuators are a class of actuators that use the swelling of a hydrogel to achieve movement. The fabrication of such actuators is usually cumbersome and, in many cases, expensive. Nowadays, sodium polyacrylate (NaPA) beads are being commercialized as toys, moisturizing agents and for decoration purposes. In this communication, we present a methodology for using commercially available hydrogel NaPA beads for the fabrication of a plethora of actuators. The here-described methodology has the advantage of being easy to implement using readily available materials and is versatile in terms of components, e.g., fabricating hydrogel/textile mixed actuator, actuator movements and cheap, a single actuator costing less than 0.1 Eurocent.