Development of conductive polymer for actuator applications

Abstract

In this study, polyaniline (PANI) was synthesized via oxidative coupling polymerization in acid conditions and its condutivity was controlled by doping in camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) solution and de-doping in solution of ammonia. Under oscillatory shear, the dynamic moduli, G' and G", dramatically increase and the suspensions of PANI/silicone oil reach liquid to solid transition occurs at a critical eletric field strength, whose value depends on particle concentration and host fluid viscosity as well as the shearing amplitude and the shearing frequency. The critical dimensionless parameter, the Mason number (Mn), varies with Peclet number (Pe) at the critical point according to a scaling relation Mn Pe0.091. The formation structure has a static yield strength ty, whose value scales with electric field strength as ty E1.88. When the field is switched off a residual structure remains, whose yield stress increases with the strength of the applied field and particle concentration. The creep response of the suspensions was also studied. Creep resistance of the suspensions generally increases with the effects of electric field strength, particle concentration, and operating temperature. Electromechanical response of camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) - doped polyaniline (PANI) particles embedded in an elastic cross-linked PDMS matrix on the effects of electric field strength, particle concentration, and operating temperature was finally studied.