Hydrophobic twisted and coiled polymer actuators
AssigneesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, The University of Texas at Dallas
InventorsYuyang Song, Umesh N. Gandhi, Yonas Tadesse, Pawandeep Singh Matharu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An actuator includes a twisted and coiled polymer fishing line and an untwisted resistance heating wire (TCPFLRHW) actuator and a coating on the TCPFLHRW actuator. The coating includes a mixture of carbon nanotubes, metal nanoparticles, and mesoporous carbon nanoparticles, and in some variations, the coating includes a polymer matrix with the carbon nanotubes, metal nanoparticles, and mesoporous carbon nanoparticles disposed in the polymer matrix. And the actuator exhibits enhanced actuator parameters such as actuator efficiency, hydrophobicity, power consumption, actuation frequency, dynamic actuation and cooling rate.
Claims20
An actuator comprising:
- a twisted and coiled polymer fishing line and resistance heating wire (TCPFLRHW) actuator;
- and
- a coating on the TCPFLRHW actuator, the coating comprising a mixture of carbon nanotubes, metal nanoparticles, and mesoporous carbon nanoparticles.
An actuator comprising:
- a twisted and coiled polymer fishing line and untwisted resistance heating wire (TCPFLURHW) actuator;
- and
- a hydrophobic coating on the TCPFLURHW actuator, the hydrophobic coating comprising a mixture of a polymer matrix and carbon nanotubes, metal nanoparticles, and mesoporous carbon nanoparticles disposed in the polymer matrix.
An actuator comprising:
- a twisted and coiled polymer fishing line and untwisted resistance heating wire (TCPFLURHW) actuator;
- and
- a hydrophobic coating on the TCPFLURHW actuator, the hydrophobic coating comprising a mixture of a polymer matrix and carbon nanotubes, nickel nanoparticles, and mesoporous carbon nanoparticles disposed in the polymer matrix with a composition of between about 5.0 wt. % about 15.0 wt. % carbon nanotubes, between about 5.0 wt. % and about 15.0 wt. % metal nanoparticles, between about 30.0 wt. % and about 50.0 wt. % mesoporous carbon nanoparticles, and between about 30.0 wt. % and about 50 wt. % polymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.