Continuous and highly efficient production of twisted monofilaments for twisted coiled polymer actuators

Research output: Contribution to book/Conference proceedings/Anthology/ReportConference contributionContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Twisted, coiled polymer actuators (TCPAs) are a recently developed type of thermal actuator that have several key advantages such as low cost, light weight, low hysteresis, high contractility, and high energy density. These features make them a promising option for soft robotics or prosthetics. However, with the state-of-the-art manufacturing process the final TCPAs are relatively short (approx. 10 cm) due to the finite length of the fiber before twisting and the shortening of the fiber upon coiling. Even with a highly automated production process their length renders them unusable for scalable textile processes like weaving, knitting, or braiding. In this work a continuous twisting process based on a plying machine is presented that allows to produce quasi-endless highly twisted fibers. Depending on the direction of twisting and coiling the TCPAs expand or contract. For a twist density of 1000 twists/m, the manufactured TCPAs contract 50 % between 25 and 100 C. Furthermore, the twisted fibers can be plied together with an additional wire to form twist-stable yarns. The metal wire can be used to heat the TCPA or it can function as a resistive or inductive sensor. These yarns can then easily be processed with textile technologies like braiding or knitting.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationActuator 2022 - 18th International Conference on New Actuator Systems and Applications
PublisherVDE Verlag, Berlin [u. a.]
Pages18-20
Number of pages3
ISBN (print)9783800758944
Publication statusPublished - 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

Publication series

SeriesGMM-Fachberichte
ISSN1432-3419

Conference

Title18th International Conference and Exhibition on New Actuator Systems and Applications
Abbreviated titleACTUATOR 2022
Conference number18
Duration29 - 30 June 2022
Website
LocationCongress Center Rosengarten
CityMannheim
CountryGermany

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-7062-9598/work/174430566
ORCID /0000-0003-1058-4030/work/174432463