History and Progress of Electroactive Polymers

Abstract

Electroactive polymers (EAPs) are those that transform an electrical field into mechanical energy and have attracted interest in science and technology recently. EAPs are polymers that show changes in shape, or dimensions, or both when under the influence of an electric field; therefore, they are responsive to electrical stimulation. The Origin of EAPs can be traced back to an experiment performed by Wilhelm Rontgen in 1880, when a natural rubber strip that was attached to a body weight was subjected to an electrostatic field. Conducting polymers (CPs) are referred to as intrinsic conducting polymers (ICPs), which are organic polymers. EAP materials can be formed into different shapes, such as fibers, films, fabrics, and strips due to ease of processing. Increased research activity is required to explore the full potential of EAPs in sensor-based technology and to commercialize it similar to other technologies. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Inamuddin, Mohd Imran Ahamed, Rajender Boddula, Adil A. Gobouri; individual chapters, the contributors.