Carbon nanotubes enhanced bimorph effect of U-shaped flexure cantilever beam actuators made from polyethylene terephthalate and polymethyl methacrylate. (1st December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tsai, Hsin-Jung; Chang, Huang-Chao; Yang, Yung-Kai; Hsu, Wen-Kuang
• Is Part Of: Materials research express. Volume 9:Number 12(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12-01
• Subjects: carbon nanotubes -- PET -- PMMA -- actuator; Materials science -- Research -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/acabb3
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-1591

Abstract

Abstract: U-shaped cantilever actuators made from PET and PMMA exhibit a bimorph effect upon radiation heating and beam always moves toward PMMA side with maximum displacement and displacing rate measured to be 2100 μ m and 35 μ m s −1 . This number increases to 3300 μ m and 55 μ m s −1 while PET surfaces are coated with single-walled carbon nanotubes acting as heat reservoir. Actuations can be further improved by carbon nanotube resistive heating and improvement reaches two-fold (4100 μ m and 68.3 μ m s −1 ). Coated beam actuators exhibit an excellent stability over 2 h intermittent operations where the maximum displacement varies only in ±1%.