Structural Improvements to Electroactive Polymers by Fibre Reinforcement

摘要

This paper investigates the potential for using electroactive epoxy hydrogels with the addition of fibre reinforcement as a self-actuating FRP composite. The aim of adding fibre reinforcement is to improve the structural performance and maintain the actuation potential of the system. It was found that the inclusion of fibre reinforcement altered the actuation response of the hydrogel from a three-dimensional shape change to an anisotropic response with the actuation concentrated in the through thickness direction. The inclusion of fibre reinforcement improved the strength and increased the stiffness of the hydrogel, whilst maintaining actuation potential.