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 language | English |
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Article number | 122897 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Polymer |
Volume | 207 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 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.
Funders | Funder number |
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Queen Mary University of London | |
Higher Education Commission, Pakistan |
Keywords
- Actuators
- Artificial muscle
- Oriented polymers
- Photo-responsive