POLYMER-POLYMER BILAYER ACTUATOR

摘要

A device for providing an electromechanical response includes two polymeric webs (11, 12) bonded to each other along their lengths thus constituting a bending element (10). At least one polymeric web is activated upon application thereto of an electric field and exhibits electrostriction by rotation of polar graft moieties within the polymeric web. In one embodiment, one of the two polymeric webs (11) is an active web upon application thereto of the electric field, and the other polymeric web (12) is a non-active web upon application thereto of the electric field. In another embodiment, both of the two polymeric webs are active webs upon application thereto of the electric field. However, these two polymeric webs are alternately activated and non-activated by the electric field.