dc.contributor.advisor |
Rosset, S |
en |
dc.contributor.advisor |
Anderson, IA |
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dc.contributor.author |
Jayatissa, Canangama |
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dc.date.accessioned |
2019-09-16T21:31:40Z |
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dc.date.issued |
2019 |
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dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2292/47733 |
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dc.description |
Full Text is available to authenticated members of The University of Auckland only. |
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dc.description.abstract |
Electrostatic actuators, like Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEA), have provided new avenues of research in soft robotics due to their high strain, high energy density, simple physical structure and compliance. The actuation characteristics of a DEA are heavily influenced by electrode shape, materials and thickness homogeneity and producing reproducible electrodes results in better actuation that improves the applications that utilize DEAs. Current fabrication methods have limitations that prevent the rapid prototyping of different electrode designs consistently. The use of inkjet printing as a fabrication methods for electrodes is explored. Material properties, like viscosity and surface tension, play an important role in the development of a printable ink. The effects of these properties were analysed. To enable better optimization of inks, a reusable cartridge for the inkjet printer (Dimatix DMP 2850) used was developed. The ink development and printing of carbon-black electrodes was carried out initially. However, creating an ink and jetting waveform for carbon-based electrodes was seen to be a tedious, time-consuming task. A novel method of electrode fabrication using a printed sacrificial layer is presented as a means to deal with this issue. The development printable sacrificial layer ink is presented and a quantitative analysis of the effects of the addition of a surfactant to the ink is carried out. The method helps utilize the advantages of inkjet printing as a fabrication method while still allowing use of different electrode materials. The use of the printed sacrificial layer for the fabrication of microfluidic channels and reservoirs was explored. The process for creating a fully printed, DEA integrated microfluidic chip was presented and it was used for the fabrication of a hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic (HASEL) actuator , which is another type of a electrostatic actuator. Further developments would include refining the fabrication process and exploring its use in other electrostatic actuator applications. |
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dc.publisher |
ResearchSpace@Auckland |
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dc.relation.ispartof |
Masters Thesis - University of Auckland |
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dc.relation.isreferencedby |
UoA99265201611502091 |
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dc.rights |
Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. Previously published items are made available in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. |
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dc.rights |
Restricted Item. Full Text is available to authenticated members of The University of Auckland only. |
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dc.rights.uri |
https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm |
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dc.rights.uri |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/nz/ |
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dc.title |
Inkjet printing as a Fabrication Tool for Dielectric Elastomer Actuator Electrodes and Microfluidics |
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dc.type |
Thesis |
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thesis.degree.discipline |
Bioengineering |
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thesis.degree.grantor |
The University of Auckland |
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thesis.degree.level |
Masters |
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dc.rights.holder |
Copyright: The author |
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pubs.elements-id |
780866 |
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pubs.org-id |
Engineering |
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pubs.org-id |
Engineering Science |
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pubs.record-created-at-source-date |
2019-09-17 |
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dc.identifier.wikidata |
Q112948932 |
|