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Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Polyvinyl Chloride Gels: Theoretical Modeling Of Their Actuation Mechanism And Characterization Of Their Properties, Zachary Frank
Polyvinyl Chloride Gels: Theoretical Modeling Of Their Actuation Mechanism And Characterization Of Their Properties, Zachary Frank
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gels are an electroactive polymer smart material which has been considered in a variety of actuator applications. Their large deformation, fast response rates, optical transparency, and soft nature has made them a key area of interest in fields ranging from soft robotics to optics. PVC gels are made from PVC mixed with large quantities of plasticizer, such as dibutyl adipate (DBA). When a voltage is applied, the gel experiences an “anodophilic” deformation (in which it moves preferentially towards the anode). This unique characteristic is the result of a charge buildup near the anode surface, which creates electromechanical …
Feasibility Study Of Custom Manufacturing Of Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite Sensors, Shelby E. Nelson
Feasibility Study Of Custom Manufacturing Of Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite Sensors, Shelby E. Nelson
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
The ability to create an ion exchange membrane with any shape or thickness through custom manufacturing techniques is highly desirable in ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) research. This is caused by the poor selection and limited availability of certain thicknesses of commercial ion exchange membranes. The objective of this study is to determine the feasibility of manufacturing custom ion exchange membranes for IPMC sensors. The manufacturing methods used in this study are extrusion, injection molding, and hot pressing. A commercial membrane from Golden Energy Fuel Cells (GEFC) is used as a comparison. After the membranes are fabricated, certain properties of the …