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Replacement of surface roughening using polyvinyl alcohol coating in the fabrication of nafion-based ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) actuators

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Abstract

In this paper, we propose a new fabrication method for ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) actuators using a Nafion/Polyvinyl alcohol layer coating instead of conventional surface roughening (sandblasting) to achieve good adhesion of a Pt electrode. Compared with the Nafion membrane, the proposed membranes (NNP25 and NNP50) have increased mechanical properties (tensile strength and Young’s moduli). In addition, IPMCs using the proposed membranes had lower current densities than the Nafion-based IPMC. Therefore, compared with the Nafion-based IPMC, the proposed NNP25- and NNP50-based IPMCs had higher blocking forces, but lower tip displacements. Consequently, through the proposed simple procedure and cost-effective fabrication method using a Nafion/Polyvinyl alcohol layer coating, we can fabricate that the proposed IPMC actuators have enhanced mechanical properties in comparison with the sandblasting surface roughening used in the conventional IPMC fabrication method.

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a new fabrication method for ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) actuators using a Nafion/Polyvinyl alcohol layer coating instead of conventional surface roughening (sandblasting) to achieve good adhesion of a Pt electrode. Compared with the Nafion membrane, the proposed membranes (NNP25 and NNP50) have increased mechanical properties (tensile strength and Young’s moduli). In addition, IPMCs using the proposed membranes had lower current densities than the Nafion-based IPMC. Therefore, compared with the Nafion-based IPMC, the proposed NNP25- and NNP50-based IPMCs had higher blocking forces, but lower tip displacements. Consequently, through the proposed simple procedure and cost-effective fabrication method using a Nafion/Polyvinyl alcohol layer coating, we can fabricate that the proposed IPMC actuators have enhanced mechanical properties in comparison with the sandblasting surface roughening used in the conventional IPMC fabrication method.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by NSL (National Space Lab) Program (2014M1A3A3A02034793) and Leading Foreign Research Institute Recruitment Program (2012K1A4A3026740) through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP)).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 500-757, Republic of Korea

    Sun Yong Jung, Jong-Oh Park & Sukho Park

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  1. Sun Yong Jung
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  2. Jong-Oh Park
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  3. Sukho Park
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Correspondence to Jong-Oh Park or Sukho Park.

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Jung, S.Y., Park, JO. & Park, S. Replacement of surface roughening using polyvinyl alcohol coating in the fabrication of nafion-based ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) actuators. J Polym Res 23, 178 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-016-1039-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-016-1039-9

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