A microwave powered polymeric artificial muscle. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aziz, Shazed; Villacorta, Byron; Naficy, Sina; Salahuddin, Bidita; Gao, Shuai; Baigh, Tajwar A.; Sangian, Danial; Zhu, Zhonghua
• Is Part Of: Applied materials today. Volume 23(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Polymeric actuator -- Artificial muscles -- Soft robotics -- Carbon nanotubes -- Microwave Heating -- Remote Actuation; Materials science -- Periodicals; Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apmt.2021.101021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-9407

Abstract

Highlights: Electromagnetic energy triggered carbon nanotube mixed polymeric artificial muscles. Anisotropic thermal expansion of highly-drawn fibres through radiation heating. Fast actuation response though volumetric heating of irradiated carbon nanotubes. Artificial muscles for soft robotic devices to operate in microwave radiation zone. Abstract: Twisted and coiled polymer fibres are vastly used to fabricate artificial muscles with stroke and stress outputs rivalling those of mammalian muscles. The thermal stimulation of these fibres, however, requires a tethered power source, limiting their application as truly autonomous system. Here, a novel type of coiled polymer actuator is demonstrated where thermal stimulation is realized via microwave radiation. This helical writhe shaped actuator is made of carbon nanotube (CNT) filled highly-drawn nylon 6 fibres and offers muscle-like linear movements when microwave-irradiated. The embedded CNTs absorb the external electromagnetic energy and act as volumetric heating sources in the fibres. When stimulated via microwave radiation, the unique anisotropic thermal expansion phenomenon of highly-drawn fibres provides >8% reversible length contraction of the writhe muscle with a starting actuation speed of ~0.8%/sec. The maximum specific work output is calculated to be ~0.2 kJ/kg, which is >5 fold higher than that for natural muscle. The developed technology offers an opportunity to stimulate the state-of-art thermoresponsive artificial muscles wirelessly and/or to use them for autonomous soft robotic application. Graphical abstract: Image, graphical abstract