Abstract: Electroactive polymer transducers are disclosed. They are biased in a manner that provides for increased force and/or stroke output, thereby offering improved work potential and power output capacity. The biasing may offer additional or alternate functional advantage in terms of matching transducer performance with a given application such as a normally-closed valve. The improved biasing (including increased output biasing) may utilize negative spring rate biasing and/or a combination of negative or zero-rate biasing with positive rate biasing to achieve the desired ends.

Abstract: A method for making an energy-absorbing foam having a density that is less than about 7 pcf that exhibits excellent strength properties and that is particularly suitable for automobile bumper applications. The invention is also directed to the energy-absorbing foam made with the method.