• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.195-200
• /
• 2003

Alginate is a natural ionic polymer including numerous anionic groups and can be actuated by the ionic group under the electric field. The crosslinked alginate films were fabricated with CaCl$_2$. The thermal, mechanical and electroresponse properties of the films were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, tensile and bending tests. The initial degradation and tensile strength increased according to the degree of crosslinking. Also, the swelling ratio of the films increased with decreasing degree of crosslinking and increasing pH due to free volume and electrostatic repulsion. The films actuated by an electric stimulus exhibited gentle and flexible action like a pendulum. In the electric field, the electric stimuli such as the applied voltage, ionic strength and kind of electrolyte solution had an effect on the electroresponse of the films. Alginate films with 5 wt% crosslinking agent showed the highest bending angle and reversible bending behavior. When the ionic strength of NaCl and KCl electrolyte solution was 0.1 M, the films showed the highest electroresponse. The bending behavior of the films increased with the applied voltage.