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Our PVC Gel Actuators
Our PVC Gel Actuators
b20-5.MOV2cm x 1 cm x 4 cm
#20 mesh
b50-52cm x 1 cm x 4 cm
#50 mesh
s20-51cm x 0.5 cm x 4 cm
#20 mesh
s50-5.MOV1cm x 0.5 cm x 4 cm
#50 mesh
What are PVC Gels?
What are PVC Gels?
PVC gels are made from making a homogenous mixture Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and Dibutyl adipate (DBA) dissolved in Tetrahydrofuran (THF).
What are PVC Gel Actuators?
What are PVC Gel Actuators?
PVC gels are dielectric elastomer materials that produce a creep deformation under an applied electric field. We use this property to create a linear actuator using PVC gels, stainless steel foils, and stainless steel meshes.
PVC Gel Actuators Components
PVC Gel Actuators Components
PVC Gels
PVC Gels
Produces creep deformation into the mesh
Stainless Steel Foil
Stainless Steel Foil
Acts as a cathode
Stainless Steel Mesh
Stainless Steel Mesh
Acts as an anode
How are PVC Gel Actuators Made?
How are PVC Gel Actuators Made?
PVC gel Actuators are created by repetitively stacking "actuator units" until the PVC gel actuator is the desired height. From the bottom up, each actuator unit consists of a stainless steel foil, PVC gel, stainless steel mesh, PVC gel, and stainless steel foil. Each actuator unit is essentially a structure in which two stainless steel foils sandwich two PVC gels which in turn sandwich the one stainless steel mesh (See the figure below).
Li, Y., & Hashimoto, M. (2015). PVC gel based artificial muscles: Characterizations and actuation modular constructions. Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical, 233, 246–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2015.07.010
PVC Actuator Housing
PVC Actuator Housing
Another important aspect of the actuator is the housing that provides structural support and facilitates the fabrication of the actuator. The PVC gels actuators are loaded into the center of the housing.
The housing that we designed is 3D printable and made to push fit. Although our current housing is made of a rigid polymer material, we hope to design a more flexible and soft housing in the future to retain the soft actuator novelty of PVC gel actuators.
Leader: Leonardo Cheng
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