The present invention relates to electroactive polymers that are pre-strained to improve conversion from electrical to mechanical energy. When a voltage is applied to electrodes contacting a pre-strained polymer, the polymer deflects. This deflection may be used to do mechanical work. The pre-strain improves the mechanical response of an electroactive polymer. The present invention also relates to actuators including an electroactive polymer and mechanical coupling to convert deflection of the polymer into mechanical work. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that conform to the shape of a polymer. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.

Electroactive polymer electrodes

The present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention also relates to devices including an electroactive polymer to convert between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that conform to the shape of a polymer included in a transducer. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.

Electroactive polymer devices

Embodiments of the present invention relate to article comprising 1) a functionalized component, 2) tackifier, and 3) an olefin polymer comprising one or more C3 to C40 olefins, optionally one or more diolefins, and less than 5 mole % of ethylene having a Dot T-Peel of 1 Newton or more, a branching index (g′) of 0.95 or less measured at the Mz of the polymer; and an Mw of 100,000 or less; where the functional component is selected from the group consisting of functionalized polymers, functionalized oligomers and beta nucleating agents; and where the Gardner color of the adhesive does not change by more than 7 Gardner units when the adhesive has been heat aged at 180° C. for 48 hours as compared to the Gardner color of the unaged composition.

Polyolefin adhesive compositions and articles made therefrom

A hand held dental instrument for curing light-curable compounds comprises a housing and an array of solid state, light emitting junctions or dies for generating light having wavelengths within a narrow band of wavelengths (e.g. 400-500 nm). Preferably, a peak wavelength of 470 nm is generated. The device further comprises an optical fiber light pipe for capturing the light and transmitting a beam of the light to a work surface containing a light-curable compound. An optical lens or lenses may be used for focusing the light into the light pipe.

Apparatus and method for curing materials with radiation

The invention describes devices for performing thermodynamic work on a fluid, such as pumps, compressors and fans. The thermodynamic work may be used to provide a driving force for moving the fluid. Work performed on the fluid may be transmitted to other devices, such as a piston in a hydraulic actuation device. The devices may include one or more electroactive polymer transducers with an electroactive polymer that deflects in response to an application of an electric field. The electroactive polymer may be in contact with a fluid where the deflection of the electroactive polymer may be used to perform thermodynamic work on the fluid. The devices may be designed to efficiently operate at a plurality of operating conditions, such as operating conditions that produce an acoustic signal above or below the human hearing range. The devices may be used in thermal control systems, such as refrigeration system, cooling systems and heating systems.

Electroactive polymer devices for moving fluid

Photopolymerizable mixture of (a) acrylic monomer such as 95 parts of an alkyl acrylate and 5 parts of acrylic acid and (b) 0.01 to 2 parts by weight of a chromophore-substituted-halomethyl-s-triazine. The invention differs from the prior art in that the s-triazine has the formula (FORMULA) wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen, alkyl or alkoxy groups, and 1 to 3 of R1, R2, R3 and R4 are hydrogen. This s-triazine can be made by a more simple and hence more economical process than can the s-triazine of the prior art, tends to provide desirably shortened reaction times and somewhat greater tolerance to oxygen, and avoids the yellowish color encountered in the prior art. The novel photopolymerizable mixture is primarily useful for making pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes.

Photoactive mixture of acrylic monomers and chromophore-substituted halomethyl-triazine

Radiation-curable, tackifier-free compositions are provided which contain: (i) a blend of certain acrylate esters and monoethylenically-unsaturated copolymerizable monomers; (ii) certain α-olefin polymers; and (iii) a photoinitiator and optionally, a crosslinker. Pressure-sensitive adhesives having good adhesion to both low and high energy surfaces as well as possessing excellent low and high temperature performance properties are prepared by exposing the radiation-curable compositions to light having a wavelength in the range of from about 280 to 400 nm.

Pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Pressure-sensitive tape, the adhesive layer of which comprises an acrylic polymer which has been crosslinked by being mixed with a chromophore-substitued halomethyl-s-triazine and exposing the mixture to ultraviolet radiation. The invention differs from the prior art in that the s-triazine has the formula (FORMULA) wherein each of R1 and R2 is hydrogen, alkyl, or alkoxy. This s-triazine can be made by a more simple and hence more economical process than can the s-triazine of the prior art, tends to provide desirably shortened reaction time and somewhat greater tolerances to oxygen, and produces no observable color versus a yellowish color encountered in the prior art.

Pressure-sensitive adhesive tape produced from photoactive mixture of acrylic monomers and polynuclear-chromo phore-substituted halomethyl-s-triazine.

A cellular pressure-sensitive adhesive membrane comprising 15 to 85% voids that does not collapse after being briefly compressed, has remarkably good adhesion on contact with rough surfaces and remarkably good flexibility and conformability at sub-freezing temperatures.

Cellular pressure-sensitive adhesive product and method of making

Solute polymers in solvent monomers form a coatable syrup that can be cured to a viscoelastomeric material when radiation-sensitive hydrogen abstracting groups in either the polymer or one of the monomers are exposed to ultraviolet radiation. The solute polymers can be formed from the solvent monomers.

George F. Vesley

Papers

Photoactive mixture of acrylic monomers and chromophore-substituted halomethyl-triazine

Pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Pressure-sensitive adhesive tape produced from photoactive mixture of acrylic monomers and polynuclear-chromo phore-substituted halomethyl-s-triazine.

Cellular pressure-sensitive adhesive product and method of making

Acrylic syrup curable to a crosslinked viscoelastomeric material