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IPMCs as EAPs: Fundamentals

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Electromechanically Active Polymers

Part of the book series: Polymers and Polymeric Composites: A Reference Series ((POPOC))

Abstract

This chapter reviews the fundamentals of ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMCs), which are used for sensors and actuators. First, the basic structure of IPMCs is described, and a brief review of their development is provided. Then, the configurations of various devices based on them, including those of the electrode materials and ionic polymers, are described. Then, the basic techniques used to characterize IPMCs are described. In the next section, electromechanical models and, in particular, a physics-based model of an IPMC actuator are discussed. Finally, electrochemical models, including an Alternating Current impedance equivalent circuit model and an electrode reaction model, and a mechanical model are discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inorganic Functional Material Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-8-31 Midorigaoka, Ikeda, Osaka, 563-8577, Japan

    Kinji Asaka

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV, 89154, USA

    Kwang Kim

  3. National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-8-31 Midorigaoka, Ikeda, Osaka, 563-8577, Japan

    Keisuke Oguro

  4. Biomedical Engineering/Advanced Robotics (BEAR) Laboratories, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA

    Mohsen Shahinpoor

Authors
  1. Kinji Asaka
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  2. Kwang Kim
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  3. Keisuke Oguro
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  4. Mohsen Shahinpoor
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kinji Asaka .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School Engineering & Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom

    Federico Carpi

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Asaka, K., Kim, K., Oguro, K., Shahinpoor, M. (2016). IPMCs as EAPs: Fundamentals. In: Carpi, F. (eds) Electromechanically Active Polymers. Polymers and Polymeric Composites: A Reference Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31530-0_6

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