Abstract: Polymer blends having improved electromechanical responses and mechanical properties for use in electromechanical application are disclosed. In particular, polymer blend including at least one electrostrictive terpolymer, e.g., poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE-CFE)) or a derivative thereof, and at least one fluoropolymer, e.g., PVDF or derivative thereof such as PVD-TrFE are disclosed. The polymer blends advantageously have a transverse strain, i.e., a strain perpendicular to the applied electric field direction, that is about 1.5% or higher (as measured at 100 MV/m) while also having an elastic modulus of no less than about 400 MPa (as measured at 30° C. and 1 Hz by dynamic mechanical analyzer).

Abstract: A regenerative electrocaloric (EC) device is provided. The regenerative EC device uses a special configuration to expand the temperature span Th-Tc, thereby increasing the cooling power and improving the efficiency thereof. The EC regenerative cooling device includes two electrocaloric effect (ECE) elements/rings in direct thermal contact with each other. The two rings rotate in opposite directions and are divided into multiple sections with an electric field or electric fields applied to every other region/section and an electric field or electric fields removed from remaining sections.

Abstract: Cooling devices, heat pumps, and climate controlling devices employing an electrocaloric composite of high thermal conductivity and significant electrocaloric effect are disclosed. The electrocaloric composites include a combination of one or more EC-fluoropolymers and their blends with one or more electric-insulating fillers of high thermal conductivity.

Abstract: Cooling devices (i.e., refrigerators or heat pumps) based on polymers which exhibit a temperature change upon application or removal of an electrical field or voltage, (e.g., fluoropolymers or crosslinked fluoropolymers that exhibit electrocaloric effect).

Abstract: Micro-streerable catheters for use in delivering therapeutic treatment in the body, such as ablation and cauterization, and which exhibit precise movement are disclosed. Embodiments include electrical micro-catheters that comprise of electroactive polymers. A preferred embodiment includes a programmable catheter.

Abstract: Polymer blends having improved electromechanical responses and mechanical properties for use in electromechanical application are disclosed. In particular, polymer blend including at least one electrostrictive terpolymer, e.g., poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE-CFE)) or a derivative thereof, and at least one fluoropolymer, e.g., PVDF or derivative thereof such as PVD-TrFE are disclosed. The polymer blends advantageously have a transverse strain, i.e., a strain perpendicular to the applied electric field direction, that is about 1.5% or higher (as measured at 100 MV/m) while also having an elastic modulus of no less than about 400 MPa (as measured at 30° C. and 1 Hz by dynamic mechanical analyzer).

Abstract: Examples of the present invention include high electric energy density polymer film capacitors with high dielectric constant, low dielectric dissipation tangent, and low leakage current in a broad temperature range. More particularly, examples include a polymer film capacitor in which the dielectric layer comprise a copolymer of a first monomer (such as tetrafluoroethylene) and a second polar monomer. The second monomer component may be selected from vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene or their mixtures, and optionally other monomers may be included to adjust the mechanical performance. The capacitors can be made by winding metallized films, plain films with metal foils, or hybrid construction where the films comprise the new compositions. The capacitors can be used in DC bus capacitors and energy storage capacitors in pulsed power systems.

Abstract: A multilayer film useful for capacitive applications comprises a high energy density layer and a dielectric blocking layer. In some embodiments, a conducting film is located between the high energy density layer and the blocking layer. The high energy density layer may be a fluoropolymer, such as a polymer or copolymer of poly-1,1-difluoroethene or a derivative thereof. The multilayer film may have high energy density (for example,. >8 J/cm3) and low dielectric loss, for example less than 2%, and preferably less than 1%.

Abstract: An adaptive lens comprises an actuator and a lens, the lens being mechanically coupled to the actuator so that energization of the actuator adjusts a focal point of the lens. The actuator may comprise a multilayer stack of electromechanical polymer (EMP) layers, having electrodes configured to apply an electric field across each EMP layer. The actuator may be operable to move and/or deform a lens, so as to adjust the focus properties of the lens. In some examples, the actuator has an annular shape, supporting a lens within the inner radius of the annulus. The lens position may be adjusted in an axial direction. In other examples, the actuator may be mechanically coupled a surface of a deformable lens, either directly or through another element of a lens structure. A strain applied to the lens modifies a curved surface of the lens, hence modifying the focal length of the lens.

Abstract: Cooling devices (i.e., a heat exchanger) based on polymers which exhibits a temperature change upon application or removal of an electrical field or voltage are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for cooling using such polymers.

Abstract: Examples of the present invention relate generally to high electric energy density polymer film capacitors with high charge-discharge efficiency and fast discharge speed. For example, a high energy density polymer capacitor may be fabricated using a polymer blend comprising one or more high dielectric constant PVDF-based polymers (including homopolymers, copolymers and/or terpolymers) and one or more other polymer with low dielectric loss and high volume resistivity compared to the one or more PVDF-based polymers. An example film capacitor may comprise a high temperature fluoropolymer with dielectric loss lower than 0.2% and good film manufacturability. Polymer films can be stretched and orientated at least in one direction to make thinner films with improved performance. Film capacitors can be made by winding metallized films, plain films with metal foils, or using a hybrid construction where the dielectric films comprise the new compositions.

Abstract: An improved charge or energy storage device having a dielectric charge or energy storage layer including: (i) a copolymer or terpolymer selected from P(VDF-CTFE), P(VDF-CFE), P(VDF-HFP), P(VDF-CDFE), P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE), P(VDF-TrFE-CFE), P(VDF-TrFE-HFP), P(VDF-TrFE-CDFE), P(VDF-TFE-CTFE), P(VDF-TFE-CFE), P(VDF-TFE-HFP), and P(VDF-TFE-CDFE); or (ii) a polymer blend of PVDF homopolymer with a copolymer selected from P(VDF-CTFE); P(VDF-CFE); P(VDF-HFP); and P(VDF-CDFE); or (iii) a polymer blend of a PVDF homopolymer with a terpolymer selected from P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE); P(VDF-TrFE-CFE); P(VDF-TrFE-HFP); P(VDF-TrFE-CDFE); P(VDF-TFE-CTFE); P(VDF-TFE-CFE); P(VDF-TFE-HFP); and P(VDF-TFE-CDFE); or (iv) a polymer blend of copolymer selected from P(VDF-CTFE); P(VDF-CFE); P(VDF-HFP); and P(VDF-CDFE); with a terpolymer selected from P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE); P(VDF-TrFE-CFE); P(VDF-TrFE-HFP); P(VDF-TrFE-CDFE); P(VDF-TFE-CTFE); P(VDF-TFE-CFE); P(VDF-TFE-HFP); and P(VDF-TFE-CDFE).

Abstract: Micro-streerable catheters for use in delivering therapeutic treatment in the body, such as ablation and cauterization, and which exhibit precise movement are disclosed. Embodiments include electrical micro-catheters that comprise of electroactive polymers. A preferred embodiment includes a programmable catheter.

Abstract: A polymer bulk acoustic resonator that includes an active semiconductor layer, a first thin film electrode layer applied to the semiconductor layer, a thin film electro-active polymer layer applied to the first thin film electrode layer; and a second thin film electrode layer applied to the thin film electro-active polymer layer.

Abstract: A polymer bulk acoustic resonator that includes an active semiconductor layer, a first thin film electrode layer applied to the semiconductor layer, a thin film electro-active polymer layer applied to the first thin film electrode layer; and a second thin film electrode layer applied to the thin film electro-active polymer layer.

Abstract: The present invention is a new class of terpolymers for use as high strain electrostrictive polymer films. More particularly, the invention is a class of electrostrictive terpolymers comprising vinylidene fluoride (VDF), trifluoroethylene (TrFE) and at least one monomer having at least one halogen atom side group. The monomer is preferably an ethylene-based monomer and preferably selected to favor gauche-type linkage along the polymer backbone. The halogen atom side group is preferably large enough to move or cause adjacent polymer chains to be farther apart from or away from each other than in the absence of such side group, but not so large that it would inhibit polymer crystallites from forming. The monomer is preferably a chloro-monomer such as chlorofluoroethylene (CFE). The chlorofluoroethylene (CFE) is preferably 1-chloro-2-fluoroethylene or 1-chloro-1-fluoroethylene. The chlorofluoroethylene (CFE) favors gauche-type linkage which favors high electrostrictive strains.

Abstract: There are disclosed new composite materials having improved electric field induced strain levels, improved electric constants, and having advantageous mechanical properties for use in electrical devices.

Abstract: There are disclosed new polymer materials having improved electric field induced strain levels, dielectric constants, and elastic energy densities for use in electromechanical and dielectric applications. Methods of manufacture of new polymer materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is embodied in an electrical device which includes at least a layer of a ferroelectric polyvinylidine flouride polymer that has been processed to exhibit an electrostrictive strain of 4% or more when an electric field gradient of 50 megavolts per meter or greater is applied thereacross. The processing of the polymer preferably involves subjecting it to either electron beam radiation or gamma radiation. The polyvinylidine flouride polymer is selected from the group of: polyvinylidine fluoride, polyvinylidine fluoride-trifluoroethylene P(VDF-TrFE), polyvinylidine fluoride tetrafluoroethylene P(VDF-TFE), polyvinylidine fluoride trifluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene P(VDF-TFE-HFE) and polyvinylidine fluoride-hexafluoropropylene P(VDF-HFE).

Abstract: An optical filter that is tunable over a wide portion of the spectrum, such as the infrared portion. The filter has a core of silica fiber with a first cladding layer of silica fiber disposed thereon. A long period grating is disposed on the core. A second electro-optical cladding layer is disposed on the first cladding layer. The first cladding layer is ultra thin so as to support only a single resonant band over the spectral portion. The resonant band is tunable to different wavelengths in the spectral portion by a voltage applied to the second electro-optic layer. The electro-optic layer is a copolymer that has a refractive index less than that of the silica fiber material. The optical filter has fast tuning speed (nanosecond range), wide tuning range (>50 nm), low insertion loss (<0.1 dB), narrow bandwidth (<0.5 nm), and low sidelobe (<30 dB).