Hydrogel-matrix encapsulated Nitinol actuation with self-cooling mechanism.

ABSTRACT: Shape-memory Nitinol holds burgeoning promise as smart actuators due to its effective resilience, high energy density, and scalability for a myriad of mesoscale machines and robotic applications. However, the higher actuation temperature and prolonged cooling time for a cyclic response make Nitinol precarious and less appealing for commercial use. On the contrary, hydrogels belong to the three dimensional (3D) polymer family where the bulk of the matrix encapsulates water (≈80-90 wt%) constituting a compelling heat-trapping medium. In this paper, we demonstrate a novel self-cooling mechanism comprising a Hydrogel-matrix Encapsulated Nitinol Actuator (HENA) where the heat emitted due to the high temperature (200-400 °C) of Nitinol is trapped in the hydrogel-matrix, maintaining a surface tem

SUBMITTER: Sivaperuman Kalairaj M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9074078 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature