STTR Phase I: Co-extruded electroded fiber sensors and actuators

这个小型企业技术转移(STTR)第一阶段项目旨在制备包含两个嵌入聚合物电解液中的金属电极的纺织纤维。这些纤维将通过多坩埚拉挤系统形成。变形时电解液中的离子流动会导致纤维产生电压，并充当应变传感器。施加的电压会使纤维弯曲变形，并作为纤维致动器工作。这种50微米规模的电激活纤维的性能可与天然肌肉纤维和肌梭(应变传感器)相媲美的工艺将被生产出来。更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是传感器的开发，这些传感器将以神经融入皮肤的方式整合到系统中。光纤传感器具有这种潜力，但其脆弱性和读出设备的复杂性阻碍了它们的广泛使用。该项目将提供一个多功能平台，用于将传感添加到软结构中，特别是在与安全有关的应用中；并开发一种可供军事、医疗、康复和机器人设备的设计者轻松使用的致动器材料。拟议的纤维可以编织成纺织品，附着在片材上，或模压成聚合物，并将允许作为服装或设备的一部分，广泛感知压力、环境变量或化学物质。随后，将这些纤维部署为人造肌肉可能会有军事或医疗用途。从长远来看，传感机器和肌肉运动的社会影响将是巨大的。该奖项是根据2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)提供资金的。

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project seeks to prepare textile fibers containing two metal electrodes embedded in a polymer electrolyte. These fibers will be formed with a multi-crucible pultrusion system. Ion flows within the electrolyte on deformation will cause the fibers to produce a voltage and act as strain sensors. An applied voltage will cause the fibers to deform by bending and work as fiber actuators. The process for such 50-micron scale electrically activated fibers comparable in properties to natural muscle fibers and muscle spindles (strain sensors) will be produced. The broader impact/commercial potential will be the development of sensors that are incorporated into systems in the way that nerves are incorporated into skin. Optical fiber sensors have this potential but their fragility and the complexity of the readout equipment have prevented their widespread use. This project will make available a versatile platform for adding sensing to soft structures, especially for safety-related applications; and the development of an actuator material that could be readily employed by designers of military, medical, rehabilitative and robotic equipment. The proposed fibers could be woven into textiles, attached to sheet materials or molded into polymers and would permit widespread sensing of stress, environmental variables or chemicals as part of clothing or equipment. Subsequent deployment of these fibers as artificial muscles could have military or medical use. Long-term the societal impact of sensing machines and muscle-like motion will be great. This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).