Smart materials convert energy from one form to another, particularly into electrical energy but also into mechanical and thermal forms, making them an important type of material, from fundamental physics to device applications. Smart polymer materials are very attractive due to their flexibility, low-cost production and easy processability. In fact, many newly developed polymer-based smart materials exhibit better performance than inorganic materials, with higher strain responses and energy density. Recent developments in electronics, however, challenge smart polymer materials in areas such as dielectric and electric properties in nano- and microscale. This volume presents recent research on polymer-based smart materials, as well as commercial advances and needs. It focuses on materials development, characterization, processing, manufacturing, analysis, design and applications. Topics include: new materials and characterization; device application; new materials and devices; and E-NSF
Contains the contents of two symposia, both held in November 2001: the first part of the volume presents Symposium EE, "Electroactive Polymers and Their Applications as Actuators, Sensors, and Artific
