Synthesis and Chemomechanical Properties of Ionic Polyurethane Elastomers

Polyurethane elastomers with carboxyl groups on their side chain or ammonium groups in main chain were synthesized and used as chemomechanical materials. The bending and shrinking behavior of ionic polyurethane elastomers were investigated to actualize physical changes of the elastomer under applied electric field. When electric stimulus was applied to a piece of the sample, without being in contact with an electrode, reversible bending was observed. Ionic polyurethane elastomers showed contractile behavior when they were connected directly to electrode after being swollen with electrolyte solution. The contractile stress was about 20 KPa. This result indicates that ionic polyurethane elastomer has high potential as the muscle-like chemomechanical materials