Review of Artificial Muscle Based on Contractile Polymers

Abstract

An artificial muscle with strength and speed equal to that of a human muscle may soon be possible. Polymer gels exhibit abrupt volume changes in response to variations in their external conditions - shrinking or swelling up to 1000 times their original volume. Through the conversion of chemical or electrical energy into mechanical work, a number of devices have already been constructed which produce forces up to 100N/cm2 and contraction rates on the order of a second. Though the promise of an artificial muscle is real, many fundamental physical and engineering questions remain before the extent or limit of these devices is known.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA259674

Entities

People

  • David Brock

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Alkanes
  • Biomedical And Dental Materials
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Electric Power
  • Energy
  • Engineering
  • Light Scattering
  • Macromolecules
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Science
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Phase Transformations
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Polymeric Films
  • Polymers

Readers

  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Reinforced Composite Materials
  • Robotics and Automation.