Multiphysics of ionic polymer-metal composite actuator

Water-based ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs) exhibit complex deformation properties, especially with decreasing water content. Based on our experimental understanding, we developed a systemic actuation mechanism for IPMCs in which the water swelling was taken as the basic cause of deformation. We focused on Nafion-IPMC, and formulated a multiphysical model to describe the complicated deformation properties. The model emphasizes pressure-induced convection fluxes and the significance of the water distribution on deformation. It shows that there are three eigen stresses activated by the migration of ions and water, namely, osmotic pressure, electrostatic stress, and capillary pressure. The model also provides a convenient way of simultaneously handling the internal eigen stresses and the external mechanical load. In this paper, we used a fundamental model, which only considered the hydrostatic pressure in the multiphysical model, to analyze the general transport properties of cations and water by numerical methods. Three effects were investigated: (1) the inter-coupling effects between cations and water, which slow down cation migration and attenuate the back-diffusion of water; (2) the pressure effect, which rarely influences the electric field and the cation distribution, but greatly changes the profile of the water concentration and then the deformation behavior; and (3) the hydration effect, which has a significant impact on the distribution profiles of the cations and the electrical potential. In contrast to the findings of traditional studies, the water concentration displays an almost uniform gradient across the thickness in the bulk, and the cation concentration at the cathode is greatly reduced by the volume effect of the hydrated cations. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.