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Elastomeric Actuators Based on Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate and Carbon Nanotubes

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Chemistry: The Key to our Sustainable Future

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Abstract

The development of new types of visual-aid tablet for visually impaired people requires the development of cheap, but still very effective photoactuating materials. This requirement can be satisfied by the use of new kind of elastomers filled by nanofillers, such as carbon nanotubes. Nanocomposites based on commercial ethylene vinyl-acetate (EVA) copolymer and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were prepared by casting from solution. The non-covalent surface modification of MWCNT was carried out by special, newly synthesized compatibilizer cholesteryl 1-pyrenecarboxylate (PyChol). In order to mimic Braille character, special home-built silicone punch and die moulds were used. The Braille element based on EVA/MWCNT-PyChol composite displays reversible, multiple changes of dimension in the direction of the irradiation during/upon illumination by red and blue light-emitted diode (LED). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed a good dispersion of the MWCNT-PyChol within the matrix. The Braille element behaviour under illumination was analysed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and by nanoindentor. Nanoindentor, even if the purpose of its original use is different, can be effectively applied for the determination of the actuation stroke, the sample dimensional changes in the direction of irradiation.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by project NOMS, which is funded by the European Commission under contract no. 228916. The authors are grateful to Centro Nacional de Microelectrónica (CNM) – Spain for provision of special punch and die silicon moulds. This contribution/publication is also the result of the implementation of the following project: Centre for materials, layers and systems for applications and chemical processes under extreme conditions Stage II, which is supported by the Research & Development Operational Program and funded by the ERDF. This work was also partly financially supported by VEGA 2/0149/14, and VEGA 2/0119/12. IMC in Prague are grateful for the institutional support under RVO: 61389013.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Composite Materials, Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 41, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Klaudia Czaniková, Mária Omastová & Peter Kasák

  2. Center of Advanced Materials, QAPCO Polymer Chair, Qatar University, 2713, Doha, Qatar

    Igor Krupa

  3. Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Heyrovsky Sq. 2, 162 06, Prague 6, Czech Republic

    Ewa Pavlová

  4. International Laser Center, Ilkovičova 3, 812 19, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Dušan Chorvát Jr.

Authors
  1. Klaudia Czaniková
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  2. Mária Omastová
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  3. Igor Krupa
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  4. Peter Kasák
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  5. Ewa Pavlová
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  6. Dušan Chorvát Jr.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Klaudia Czaniková .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Mauritius Dept of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Reduit, Mauritius

    Minu Gupta Bhowon

  2. University of Mauritius Dept. of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Reduit, Mauritius

    Sabina Jhaumeer-Laulloo

  3. University of Mauritius Dept. of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Reduit, Mauritius

    Henri Li Kam Wah

  4. University of Mauritius Dept. of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Reduit, Mauritius

    Ponnadurai Ramasami

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Czaniková, K., Omastová, M., Krupa, I., Kasák, P., Pavlová, E., Chorvát, D. (2014). Elastomeric Actuators Based on Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate and Carbon Nanotubes. In: Gupta Bhowon, M., Jhaumeer-Laulloo, S., Li Kam Wah, H., Ramasami, P. (eds) Chemistry: The Key to our Sustainable Future. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7389-9_1

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