Dynamic mechanical, electrical, and actuation properties of ionic polymer metal composites using PVDF/PVP/PSSA blend membranes

This paper reports the dynamic mechanical, electrical, and actuation properties of ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) actuators that use polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)/polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSA) blend membranes. In this research, two new IPMC actuators using PVDF/PVP/PSSA blend membranes in the blend ratios of 60/15/25 and 40/30/30 were fabricated. All of the PVDF/PVP/PSSA-based IPMC actuator properties were compared with Nafion-based IPMC. The storage moduli of the IPMC using 60/15/25 blend membrane were higher than those of the IPMCs using the 40/30/30 blend membrane and the Nafion membrane. The current density of the IPMCs increased with increasing alternating current (AC) voltage and increasing frequencies. The current density of the Nafion-based IPMC was found to be higher than those of the PVDF/PVP/PSSA-based IPMCs. The actuation performances of the IPMCs were tested under direct current (DC) voltages of 1–3 V and AC voltages of 2–4 V. Under DC voltage, the PVDF/PVP/PSSA-based IPMC was actuated toward the anode side without back-relaxation, while the Nafion-based IPMC depicted back-relaxation. The blocking forces of all the IPMCs were evaluated as a function of time under DC voltages of 2 and 3 V. The tip displacements of the IPMCs increased with increasing AC voltages and decreased with increasing frequency. The bandwidth of the PVDF/PVP/PSSA-based IPMC was slightly higher than that of the Nafion-based IPMC.