Large and symmetric deflection of Acryl plate-CFRP plate laminate actuator

Abstract

Unlike well-investigated polymer-based soft actuators such as gel, Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite, conducting polymer, a CFRP-based polymeric laminate possesses quite distinguished properties. It was previously reported that a CFRP-PVC laminate exhibited two-way deflection in accordance with environmental temperature, but it could not exhibit symmetric deflection because of its asymmetric structure. It must broaden the potential usefulness of the CFRP-based polymeric laminate as a soft actuator by achieving its symmetric deflection. In this study, we attempted to fabricate a new CFRP-based polymeric laminate which could exhibit symmetric deflection by electrical laminate temperature control. Despite such a successful outcome, still there was a room to improve the performance of the new CFRP-based polymeric laminate especially about the degree of its deflection. Its deflection was not so large for the actuator use. Hence, we further attempted to fabricate another CFRP-based polymeric laminate which could exhibit large and symmetric deflection under electrical control of laminate temperature. In fact, this another CFRP-based laminate exhibited symmetric deflection in accordance with temperature and the deflection was indeed enhanced.