RF actuation of a thermoset shape memory polymer with embedded magnetoelectroelastic particles

A significant drawback of all current smart-material-based actuators, including those utilizing shape memory alloys (SMAs) and shape memory polymers (SMPs), is the need to provide electrical wiring directly to the device for actuation. Indeed, wireless actuation - the ability to affect shape change remotely without delivering power directly through attached wires - is a very desirable attribute for many smart-material-based devices. In this article, a novel scheme for wireless, radio-frequency (RF)-induced actuation of magnetoelectroelastic (MEE)-particle-filled SMPs is introduced. In particular, wireless actuation capability is demonstrated in a commercially available, epoxy-based thermoset SMP (TEMBO®-DP5.1) filled with commercially available MEE Terfenol-D particles. Rapid and uniform heating was achieved in test specimens with particle loadings up to 20 volume percent. Experiments confirmed expectations that RF-energy coupling is very dependent on RF frequency and MEE-particle loading level. Finally, RF energy was used to affect shape-recovery actuation of a simple MEE-particle-filled SMP device, indicating that the inclusion of MEE particles did not interfere with shape memory performance of the SMP.