Electro-striction effect of polyurethane elastomer (PUE) and its application to actuators

The polyurethane elastomers (PUEs) without solvent similar to a polymer gels have been found to show the electro-striction effect. We proposed the application to an actuator utilizing the electro-striction effect of PUEs. PUEs were synthesized by prepolymer technique and were polymerized in the form of films by casting method. The actuator is a monomorph type which is formed metal electrodes on the both surfaces of PUE films by thermal or ion-beam-assisted deposition method. While, it was tried to operate the actuators under low voltage by inducing C-60 derivative into PUEs. Both the normal PUE and the PUE doped fullerenol increased with increasing an applied voltage. All of samples were bent in the direction of the cathode, and they have polarity effect. The bends of the PUE films doped fullerenol were larger than that of the normal PUE films and it became possible to operate at low voltage. Also, the pincette type actuator could smoothly pick up a sponge like a finger.