Physicists and chemists have long sought to develop lightweight materials that grow or shrink significantly in length or volume when subjected to electric stimulation. Such substances could serve as the drivers for novel motion-generating devices (generally called actuators) – possible replacements for the ubiquitous electric motor, which are often too bulky and heavy for smaller scale applications. A new generation of electro-active polymer (EAP) materials displays sufficient physical response to electrical excitation to power new classes of actuators as well as innovative sensors and energy generators. Products based on this “artificial muscle” technology are just starting to hit the market.
Electro-active polymer technology could potentially replace common motion-generating mechanisms in positioning, valve control, pump and sensor applications, where designers are seeking quieter, power efficient devices to replace cumbersome conventional electric motors and drive trains. An EAP actuator is not only completely different from conventional electromechanical devices, but also separates itself from other high-tech approaches that are based on piezoelectric materials or shape-memory alloys by providing a significantly more power-dense package and, in many instances, a smaller footprint.
Shape-memory alloys contract with a thermal cycle, and piezoelectric technologies expand and contract with voltage at high frequencies. While both these technologies provide direct displacement, they are usually limited to a 1% direct displacement. Electromagnetic solutions typically consist of a motor that rotates an output shaft, so there is no direct displacement from the motor itself. The output shaft connects to a “drive train,” gear reducer transmission or other mechanical device that has several touching and moving parts, which create an “indirect”
According to a new market research study from Innovative Research and Products (iRAP) titled “Electro-active Polymer Actuators – Types, Applications, New Developments, Industry Strucutre and Global Markets,” the global market for EAP actuators and sensors reached $15 million in 2007. This will increase to $247 million by 2012. North America has about 66% market in 2007, followed by Europe at 21.3%, Japan at 9.3%, and rest of world at 3.3%. The AAGR growth rate is expected to be 71.3% to 91.8% for the four major regions surveyed for the period 2007 to 2012.
The demand for EAP actuators and sensors in 2007 comes mostly from laboratories for research and development in new application areas. There is large scale EAP-related R&D activity in university and institutional labs in North America, resulting in initial large scale demand for EAP devices in 2007. The sensors (as used in smart fabrics and high strain applications)
This iRAP (Innovative Research and Products, Inc.) study segmented markets into four applications for electro-active polymer devices and products. These are medical devices, smart fabrics, digital mechtronics, and high strain sensing in construction. Manufacturers of electro-active polymers expect competition to persist and intensify in the future from a number of different sources. EAP devices are facing competition in a new rapidly evolving and highly competitive sector of the medical market. Increased competition could result in reduced prices and gross margins for EAP products and could require increased spending by research and development, sales and marketing, and customer support.
Medical devices will have the largest share in 2007, as much as 77.3%, followed by smart fabrics with 13.3%, digital mechtronics with 6.7%, and high strain sensing in construction as the remaining 2.7% of the market. While the medical devices will continue to maintain the lead in 2012, that sector will see the largest growth rate as well, as much as 92 % AAGR from 2007 to 2012.
According to the iRAP study, during 2007, there was a low key activity in the manufacturing of EAP devices. Companies are catering to specific orders of low to medium volumes. Low penetration of EAP technology in the fragmented market is partly due to lack of standardization of product specifications among manufacturers. Adaptation of EAP technology during the period of replacement of bulky conventional actuators by OEMs will depend upon, besides cost, reliability and durability of the EAP devices.
