Photo-thermal actuation of ultra-drawn high-density polyethylene

Muhammad Rehan Asghar Bhatti (Corresponding author), Emiliano Bilotti, Han Zhang, Cees W.M. Bastiaansen (Corresponding author), Ton Peijs (Corresponding author)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this work, the photo-actuation of melt-processed ultra-drawn films based on high-density polyethylene (HDPE), incorporating a light-responsive additive (2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-ditertpentylphenol, BZT), is presented. These oriented films exhibits a fast (<1 s) and reversible photo-thermal response upon exposure to ultra-violet (UV) light with a maximum actuation stress of ∼20 MPa at a strain of 0.1%. Actuation is triggered by light, which is absorbed by the BZT and transferred into heat. The generated heat, in combination with the intrinsic high stiffness (∼30 GPa) and negative thermal expansion of these oriented polymer films, induces entropy driven contraction of the macromolecular chains and thus when constrained an actuation stress. The above described set of properties, in combination with the facile, low cost and industrially scalable processing of these actuators makes them suitable for a wide range of potential applications, such as light driven robotics, control devices and functional textiles.

Original languageEnglish
Article number122897
Number of pages8
JournalPolymer
Volume207
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Oct 2020

Funding

MRAB would like to acknowledge financial support through the co-funded PhD Studentship by Queen Mary University of London and the Pakistan Higher Education Commission . We would like to acknowledge the help of Dr. Giovanni Santagiuliana, and Ms. Yunyin Lin at Nanoforce Technology and QMUL for their assistance with polymer processing and characterization. We would also like to acknowledge Dr. Erica Di Federico at QMUL for her technical assistance with mechanical and thermal analysis.

FundersFunder number
Queen Mary University of London
Higher Education Commission, Pakistan

    Keywords

    • Actuators
    • Artificial muscle
    • Oriented polymers
    • Photo-responsive

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