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Abstract: Ionic polymer‐metal composites (IPMCs) serve as electro‐mechanical transducers for actuator and sensor applications, see [1]. Typically, they are sandwiched between two impermeable electrodes comprising the polymer network, the liquid, the fixed anions and the mobile cations. The actuation mechanism takes place by applying an electric potential (voltage) and the mobile cations move towards the cathode. Due to the relocation of the cations (electrostatic and ionic forces), a deformation of the IPMC can be observed. In contrast, the sensing mechanism is performed by applying a mechanical load yielding to a concentration redistribution and generating an electrical potential inside the IPMC. In Leichsenring [2], a parametric study has been carried out for the description of an IPMC. Therein, the Theory of Porous Media (TPM) was used, see [3], while the motion of the liquid and the cations were restricted. In the present contribution, the actuation and sensing behavior of an IPMC is presented within the framework of the TPM, see [5]. (© 2017 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroactive polymers (EAPs) are considered as smart materials. Therein, a differentiation between an electric and an ionic EAP will be made. In this contribution, in particular the ionic polymer‐metal composites (IPMCs) are investigated which belong to the class of the ionic EAPs. These kind of materials act as an actuator and a sensor in variety of applications. The actuation application is given by applying an electrical voltage to the electrodes which instantaneously leads to the relocation of the mobile cations towards the cathode. The sensor application is performed by loading the IPMC mechanically which generates an electrical field. For the prediction of the behavior of this material, the theoretical framework of electrodynamics in combination with the Theory of Porous Media has been taken into account, see [1–3]. A numerical example for the 2D sensing behavior is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic electroactive polymers are widely used in many engineering fields. These kind of materials can be stimulated to change their shape and size, see [1]. Since, the material under consideration has a complex multiphasic microstructure, such multiphasic materials are best described by a continuum mechanical approach. Thus, the presented model is based on the Theory of Porous Media (TPM), cf. [2]. In this contribution, we consider the Ionic Polymer Metal Composites (IPMCs). Stimulating by an electrical voltage, a structural deformation will be caused. Responsible for this deformation are the mobile ions. The focus of the presented model is to capture this material behavior, e.g. the distribution of the mobile cations. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]