Voltage-Induced Wrinkle Performance in a Hydrogel by Dielectric Elastomer Actuation.

Chao Tang,Chenbang Zou,Bo Li,Lei Liu,Hualing Chen

doi:10.3390/polym10070697

Chao Tang, Chenbang Zou + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/polym10070697

Copy DOI

Journal: Polymers	Publication Date: Jun 22, 2018
Citations: 8	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Xi'an Jiaotong University, Zhejiang University

Abstract

Hydrogel is a type of soft smart material and is responsive to stimuli. In the development of actuation in hydrogel, electrical actuation features a fast and universal strategy which is favored in the engineering system. Due to the difficulty in direct electrical actuation in hydrogel, in this study, an indirect actuation was attained via a dielectric elastomer. An aligned wrinkle pattern was obtained in the hydrogel upon a direct-current voltage, and it is reversible. The morphology and nonlinear mechanics of the electro-wrinkling deformation was characterized and analyzed. The optical property of the wrinkle in hydrogel was investigated, demonstrating a tunable blurring effect in optics. The electro-wrinkling performance offers a potential application with soft and tunable optical property in hydrogel-based actuators.

Highlights

Hydrogel is a type of soft materials, consisting of long-chain polymer networks and diverse liquid solvents
We present a new actuation route for the hydrogel via the electromechanical deformation of a dielectric elastomer
In the study of solid mechanics, when hydrogel has been attached on a thin substrate and wrinkled by compression, this phenomenon is considered as a global instability

Summary

Introduction

Hydrogel is a type of soft materials, consisting of long-chain polymer networks and diverse liquid solvents. Owing to its large liquid component, a piece of hydrogel can deform largely, in terms of volume change by 50 times after swelling [1] or the attainable maximum stretch of 22 times in pure shear configuration [2] This unique mechanical property offers promising applications in tissue engineering [3], soft robots [4] and biomimetic systems [5]. The hydrogels may form crease patterns, if constrained by a mechanical boundary layer [11], which can be developed as an active surface [12]; or hydrogel can generate a bending locomotion as a worm-like robot [13], as well as a non-invasive gripper [14] These actuation strategies are sensitive to the environment and are only applicable in selected application cases. A more universal strategy for hydrogel in actuation is expected

Results

Discussion

Conclusion