Polymeric materials as artificial muscles: an overview.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Robotics

Background:

• Accurate material selection is crucial for developing active systems that generate actuating forces, such as artificial muscles.
• Functional polymers, including shape-memory polymers (SMPs) and electroactive polymers (EAPs), present emerging opportunities for advanced system design.
• Research extensively explores SMPs and EAPs for actuator development, focusing on their unique properties and actuation responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review active polymers, specifically SMPs and EAPs, concerning their properties and primary applications in artificial muscle design.
• To provide a concise overview of materials enabling the creation of artificial muscles.
• To highlight the potential of functional polymers in realizing novel actuating systems.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent scientific publications on SMPs and EAPs.
• Analysis of material properties relevant to actuator functionality.
• Compilation of key examples demonstrating the application of these polymers in artificial muscles.

Main Results:

• Thermally activated SMPs exhibit shape-memory effects (SME) based on updated theoretical understanding.
• EAPs demonstrate actuation through specific working mechanisms, with their properties and limitations outlined for actuator use.
• Several successful applications of both SMPs and EAPs in artificial muscle designs are presented.

Conclusions:

• Polymer architecture design holds significant potential for fabricating actively moving systems.
• The review offers perspective on current achievements and emerging research directions in active polymer-based actuators.
• Functional polymers are key to advancing the field of artificial muscles and related technologies.