Design and Simulation of a Bending Actuator Based on Super-Aligned Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Composites

Abstract:

Super-aligned carbon nanotube films are carbon nanotube macrostructures which have excellent orientations. The bending actuator based on super-aligned carbon nanotube/polymer composites can make a significant controllable bending deformation under a very low DC voltage (< 700 V/m). In this paper, we explored how to make the thermal induced actuator reach maximal deformation. By theoretical modeling and simulation through Mathematica software, the relationship between free-end displacement of the actuator and actuator length, thickness (or thickness ratio) of two layers, difference of coefficient of thermal expansion between two layers, temperature variation and other parameters were studied. Simulation results showed that the deformation is greatly influenced by the thickness ratio of the two layers of the actuator. The deformation displacement reaches a maximum value with a specified thickness ratio. This study may provide valuable theoretical references for the experimental design of carbon nanotube composite actuators.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 814)
• Pages: 107-112
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.814.107
• Online since: March 2015
• Authors: Wei Zhang, Ming Cen Weng, Lu Zhuo Chen*
• Keywords: Actuator, Carbon Nanotube, Composite, Simulation

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