Modeling of carbon nanotube actuators: Part I - Modeling and Electrical properties

Abstract

The outstanding electrical and mechanical properties of single carbon nanotubes are the motivation for intensive research in various fields of application. The actuation effect discovered in 1999 constitutes the foundation for any application as a multifunctional material and within the field of adaptronics. Bucky-paper is a carbon nanotube based structure produced by vacuum filtration and consists of stochastically aligned carbon nanotubes. Specimen of this material are used to investigate the actuation mechanism on a macroscopic level. Still, a formalism describing the behavior of the system has to be presented yet. The complete description and parameterization of such a model is documented in two articles. In the first one the test setup and the model will be introduced furthermore the electrical parameters will be determined. In the second article the mechanical system and the actuating effect will be examined. Finally the applicability of the model will be checked