• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.298-304
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• 2003

IPMC(Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite) is a highly sensitive actuator that shows a large deformation in presence of low applied voltage. Generally, IPMC can be fabricated by electroless plating of platinum on both sides of a Nafion (perfluorosulfonic acid) film. When a commercial Nafion film is used as a base structure of the IPMC membrane, the micro-pump structure and the IPMC membrane are fabricated separately and then later assembled, which makes the fabrication inefficient. Therefore, fabrication of an IPMC membrane and the micro-pump structure on a single wafer without the need of assembly have been developed. The silicon wafer was partially etched to hold liquid Nafion to be casted and a 60-${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ thick IPMC membrane was realized. IPMC membranes with various size were fabricated by casting and they showed 4-2${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ displacements from $4mm{\times}4mm$ , $6mm{\times}6mm$, $8mm{\times}8mm$ membranes at the applied voltage ranging from 2Vp-p to 5Vp-p at 0.5Hz. The displacement of the fabricated IPMC membranes is fairly proportional to the membrane area and the applied voltage.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.105-112
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• 2002

The low actuation voltage and quick bending response of IPMC(ion-exchange polymer metal composite) are considered attractive for the construction of various types of actuators. In this study, in order to develop a new type actuators by using the IPMC platinum electrode of IPMC are fabricated by using electroless impregnation-reduction method plating. As the platinum-plating times are increased, IPMC performance was improved in terms of bending displacement and force due to the enhanced surface conductivity. In addition, we investigated the basic actuation characteristics of resonance frequency and actuator length as well as the effect of water uptake and ion mobility. Using the classical laminate theory(CLT), a modeling methodology was developed to predict the deformation, bending moment, and residual stress distribution of anisotropic IPMC thin plates. In this modeling methodology, the internal stress evolved by the unsymmetric distribution of water inside IPMC was quantitatively calculated and subsequently the bending moment and the curvature were estimated for various geometry of IPMC actuator.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.865-871
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• 2015

This study was conducted in order to develop a finger exoskeleton system using ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs) as the actuator and sensor in a hybrid structure. To use the IPMC as an actuator producing large force, a first order transfer function was obtained using results from a block force for DC excitation that applied to two IPMCs of 20mm-width, 50mm-length, and 2.4mm thickness together. After which the validation of 200gf control with anti-windup PI controller was confirmed. A 5mm-width, 50mm-length, 0.6mm-thickness of IPMC was also modeled as a sensor for tip displacement. As a result, the IPMC sensor could been utilized as a trigger role for the actuator. Finally, an IPMC sensor and actuator were installed on the joint of a single DOF exoskeleton in the hybrid structure, and test for the control of 40gf of block force and predefined sequence of motion was performed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.718-721
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• 2007

The ionic-polymer-metal-composite actuators have the best merit for bio-mimetic locomotion because of their large bending performance. Especially, they have the advantage for mimicking a fish-like motion because IPMCs are useful to be actuated in water. So we have developed IPMC actuators with multiple electrodes for realization of biomimetic motion. This actuator is fabricated by combining electroless plating and electroplating techniques capable of patterning precisely and controlling a thickness of Pt electrode layer. The FRF analysis was conducted by a mechanical shaker and direct electrical excitation which is based on sweep sine wave function. From this result, the proper young‘s modulus of Platinum was investigated and applied on expecting the vibration characteristics of patterned IPMC actuator. The calculated maximum displacement of the patterned IPMC was 2.32mm under an applied 4mN/mm. The natural frequency was increased however displacement was decreased in according to increase a thickness of Pt.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.137-140
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• 2006

In order to overcome the weak actuation and relaxation problems during the deformation of IPMC actuator, polymeric anion (polystyrenesulfonate)-doped polypyrrole(Ppy(PSS)) was electrodeposited onto IPMC actuator. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study showed that hydrated cations were instilled into Ppy(PSS) film and polymeric-anion dopants introduced during polymerization were not expelled. Ppy(PSS)-coated IPMC actuator formed two electrode/electrolyte interfaces, Pt/nafion and Ppy(PSS)/bulk solution, and additive volume expansion phenomena at interfaces induced the large deformation compensating the relaxation of actuation by back diffusion of water.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.173-174
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.1217-1218
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• 2013

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.1865-1870
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• 2010

We develop an IPMC actuator with self-sensing behavior based on an accurate neural network model (NNM). The supplied voltage and voltage signals measured at two determined points on both sides of the IPMC sheet are used as inputs to the NNM. A CCD laser displacement sensor is installed in the rig for accurate measurement of the IPMC tip displacement that is used as the training output of the proposed NNM. Consequently, the NNM model is used to estimate the IPMC tip displacement; the NNM parameters are optimized by the collected input/output training data. The effectiveness of the model for the IPMC actuator is then verified by modeling results.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.103.3-103
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• 2001

Recently Electro active polymer has been discussed in various researches as new actuators replacing the human muscles. Since they have confronted a limitation of more advanced application with traditional actuator. IPMC (Ion exchange Polymer Metal Composite) is one of candidate materials for new actuators. In this paper, we propose a new approach and design principle for the IPMC polymer actuator to conquer the weaknesses of IPMC that is intrinsic weak structural stiffness and low trust forces. In the first we performs some experimental works about how the basic specific characteristics of IPMC vary and what the optimal operating conditions are. And we have applied IPMC as active cilium for realization of annelida motion like ...

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.660-666
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• 2001

The Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC) is one of the electroactive polymer (EAP) have potential application as micro actuators. In this study, IPMC is used as actuator to control of the direction for the endscopic microcapsule. Because it bends in water and wet conditions by applying a low voltage $(1\sim3\;V)$ to its surfaces. The basic characteristics and the static modeling of IPMC are discussed. Also the dynamic modeling is performed using the Lagrange' equation. Computer simulation results show that the performed modeling guarantee similarity of actual system.