JPH0774406A - Polarized fine particle-loaded electromagnetic strain material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To acquire a polarized fine particle-loaded electromagnetic strain material which expands and contracts at high strain rate by dispersing a number of non- spherical fine particles polarized electrically or magnetically in an elastic substrate material such as plastic and rubber aligning a polarization direction in a fixed direction. CONSTITUTION:A soft base material layer 1 comprised of non-foaming soft urethane resin, etc., has a number of electric polarization fine particles 2 dispersed therein. The polarized fine particle 2 is a rotated ellipse body comprised of a ferrodielectric such as PZT and tilts about 45 deg. to right and left directions, and its left upper end is polarized to positive charge and its right lower end polarizes to negative charge. An electrode layer 3 having expansion and contraction property in right and left directions is attached to an upper surface of the base material layer 1 and a similar electrode layer 4 is attached to a lower surface thereof. When a positive voltage is applied to the electrode layer 3 and a negative voltage is applied to the electrode layer 4, each polarization fine particle 2 rotates about 45 deg.. Following the rotation, the base material layer 1 is affected by an elastic substance constituting the base material layer 1 fixing to a periphery of each fine particle and it expands right and left, thus reducing a thickness.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electromagnetic strain material which expands and contracts at a high strain rate when an electric field or a magnetic field is applied.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, PZT, quartz, polyvinylidene fluoride, and other electrostrictive materials (piezoelectric materials) have been known, but the amount of electrostriction is very small, and even the largest PZT has 0.1%.
Only to expand and contract, to get a big movement,
Two sheets with different directions of expansion and contraction must be attached and curved. Therefore, it is not suitable for use as an artificial muscle such as being put in a robot.

Regarding nickel and other magnetostrictive materials,
It is almost the same.

[0004]

The present invention provides an electrostrictive material or a magnetostrictive material which has a large strain rate (expansion / contraction rate) with respect to an applied electric field or magnetic field and can have a maximum strain rate of more than 10%. .

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A large number of electrically or magnetically polarized fine particles having an elliptical shape, a cylindrical shape, a disk shape, or other non-spherical shape, which are electrically or magnetically polarized, are fixed in a plastic, rubber, or other elastic base material. We will solve the problem by producing an electromagnetically strained material containing polarized fine particles, which is made by aligning and aligning the polarization direction.

[0006]

EXAMPLE FIG. 1 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a part of a soft electrostrictive (electrostrictive) material containing polarized fine particles according to the present invention. Figure 2
Is a plan view thereof. Reference numeral 1 is a soft base material layer having a thickness (upper and lower width) of about 0.1 mm and made of non-foaming soft urethane resin, vinyl chloride resin, various rubbers and the like. 2 is a large number of electrically polarized fine particles dispersed therein, and has an elliptic shape (spheroid) close to a cylinder with a major axis of 3 μm and a minor axis of about 1 μm, and is made of a ferroelectric substance such as PZT, 4 for left and right
It is tilted about 5 °, the upper left end is polarized positively and the lower right end is negatively charged, and occupies several 10% of the apparent volume of the base material layer 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes an electrode layer attached to the upper surface of the base material layer 1 and having a thickness of about 1 μm and having elasticity in the left-right direction. 4 is an electrode layer similar to 3 attached to the lower surface of the base material layer 1.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a metal portion in the electrode layer 3 or 4, which is a kind of a plurality of zigzag lines made of aluminum, copper, gold, chrome, and other metals arranged in parallel and connected to each other by a bridge in places. It has a mesh shape and the line width is about 1 μm. Reference numeral 6 is an exposed portion of the conductive adhesive containing fine particles of carbon or metal. Next, this operation will be described.

When a positive voltage of about 100 V and a negative voltage of 4 are applied to the electrode layer 3 through a lead wire (not shown), the upper left end of each polarized fine particle 2 receives a repulsive force from the electrode 3 due to an electric field generated between both electrodes. It receives an attractive force from the electrode 4 and descends, and the lower right end receives an opposite force and rises, rotates about 45 °, and its major axis becomes horizontal. Along with this rotation, dragged by the elastic material that constitutes the base material layer fixed around each fine particle,
The left-right length of the base material layer 1 extends and the thickness decreases.

Now, the apparent horizontal width of each fine particle 2 is 2 μm.
m, the vertical width is also 2 μm, and when it is horizontal, the horizontal width is 1.5 times and the vertical width is 0.5 times, greatly affecting the horizontal length and thickness of the base material layer 1. Left and right length increases and thickness decreases by 10% or more. If the base material layer 1 extends to the left and right, the electrode layers 3 and 4 also extend, but the zigzag-shaped metal wire 5 forming the electrodes 3 and 4 can expand and contract to the left and right, so that it does not break.

When the potential difference between the electrodes 3 and 4 is set to 0, each fine particle 2 returns to its original position due to the elasticity of the base material layer 1, and the left-right length and thickness also return. If the voltage applied to the electrodes 3 and 4 is reversed, the upper left end of each particle 2 will be attracted by the negative charge of the electrode 3, and the lower right end will be attracted by the positive charge of the electrode 4, and will rotate and stand almost vertically. The lateral length of the material layer 1 decreases and the thickness increases.

When positive and negative voltages are applied to the electrodes 3 and the potential difference exceeds a certain value, the fine particles 2 rotate further from the horizontal state, the left-right length decreases rather, and the thickness increases. . When a reverse voltage is applied, even if each fine particle 2 reaches almost vertical and then a higher voltage is applied, the base material layer 1
The horizontal length and thickness of the do not change (saturation).

With a structure as shown in FIG. 1, a thickness of 0.1 m
m, width 20 cm, length 10 cm, electrostrictive material belt 40 cm width, 0.01 mm thick synthetic fiber cloth or film overlaid so that both ends protrude by 10 cm, with rubber glue While hardening, roll up to make a semi-cylindrical artificial muscle with a width of about 5 cm, squeeze the cloth or film protruding from both ends to make an artificial tendon, connect it to the artificial skeleton in the robot, and apply a voltage to the electrodes 3, 4. It is used to control and contract the artificial muscles appropriately and move the robot arm.

The cloth corresponding to the tendon has a middle portion 16c.
It is also possible to omit about m and overlap only the edge of an object having a width of about 12 cm on the piezoelectric material belt. Wrap around a metal core with a diameter of about 1 mm so that the outer diameter is about 3 mm, and then pull out the core to create a thin artificial muscle with an inner space, bundle a large number of these and feel it to feel soft from the outside You may

A flexible elastic muscle may be formed by using a rubber cord having a thread serving as a tendon only at both ends, a cord made of urethane foam, or the like, and wrapping an electrostrictive material around the cord.
Water or highly viscous silicone oil or the like may be contained in the core of the urethane foam, and both ends may be closed so as not to leak, so that the feel of the body may be close to the muscle of the living body.

The thickness of the base material layer 1 may be larger or smaller than 0.1 mm. The material may be replaced with polyethylene, other plastics, urethane resin having a low foaming rate, or the like. The shape of the polarized fine particles 2 may be changed to a cylindrical shape, a disk shape, or any other shape, and the size, material, mixing ratio, etc. may be arbitrarily selected.
When a coating made of a non-polarizable material different from that of the above is applied and mixed with the raw material of the base material layer, it becomes difficult for the fine particles to connect with each other by an electric attractive force and prevent uniform dispersion. You may do the same.

Instead of attaching the electrode layers 3 and 4 to the base material layer 1, the base material layer 1 containing fine particles may be placed between two electrodes made of a hard metal plate to expand and contract. Fine particles 2 that are magnetically polarized (magnetized) with a durable magnet material may be formed, and the energization of a magnetic coil provided at a location apart from the base material layer 1 may be controlled to expand and contract. Alternatively, a large number of minute coils as shown in FIG. 3 may be printed on the base material layer 1 and energized to expand and contract.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the magnetic coil 7 printed on the base material layer 1. The diameter of the circle drawn by the coil 7 is about the thickness of the layer 1. The overlapping part of the wire is separated by an insulator. The total number of turns of the coil is very large, and it is possible to create a fairly strong magnetic field. (If a downward magnetic force line emerges from within one coil, an upward magnetic force line is generated around it, so it is desirable to use a fine particle 2 whose major axis described later is aligned in the left-right direction or the vertical direction.) Of course, A magnetic field may be created and expanded by a magnetic coil provided in a portion apart from the base material layer 1.

When the upper left end of the fine particles 2 is the n pole and the lower right end is the s pole, when the magnetic field is directed from the top to the bottom, the fine particles rotate to the left,
If it is in the opposite direction, it rotates to the right and the lateral length of the base material layer 1 extends,
Or shrink. Next, an example of a method of manufacturing the mesh electrode 3 will be described. First, a conductive coating material containing carbon fine particles is thinly applied to the surface of the base material layer 1 and a metal layer is formed thereon to a thickness of about 1 μm by electroplating. (Evaporation or sputtering may be used.) Then, a photoresist is applied, a mask is used for exposure, and a photo-etching technique is used to finish the shape as shown in FIG.

Alternatively, a metal plating layer having a thickness of about 1 μm is formed on a thin plastic film, formed into a net by photoetching, a base material layer is coated with a conductive adhesive, and a metal surface is covered on the conductive adhesive for adhesion. (The plastic film may be left or may be removed with a solvent.) With the base material layer 1 stretched in the stretching direction during operation, a metal having excellent malleability such as gold is plated, or conductive Even if the base material is stretched by applying a conductive paint and the base material is stretched so that cracks do not occur in those layers, the electrode layer does not have to be reticulated.

When the reticulated electrode is attached, the base material layer may be pulled. You may use it for an electrode layer by making a knitting or other cloth with thin metal wires or carbon fibers and sticking those cloths with the base material layer stretched. When the magnetic coil 7 is manufactured, a large number of C-shaped metal rings are first formed by photoetching, then photoresist is attached on the portions where the lines overlap, and then the remaining metal line portions are formed by photoetching. Set to state 3. You may stack several turns of coil, sandwiching an insulating layer.

Alternatively, a single-layer solenoid coil is made of a fine metal wire coated with an insulating material, an adhesive is applied on the base material layer 1, and the solenoid coil is adhered onto the base layer 1 while applying pressure to the state shown in FIG. Good. When all the major axis directions of the elliptical fine particles 2 are aligned in the horizontal direction, if the electrode 3 is positively charged, the left end of the fine particles 2 goes up and the right end goes down, and the lateral length of the base material layer 1 shrinks and the thickness is Increase. When the electrode 3 is negatively charged, the left end of the particles 2 goes down and the right end goes up, but the expansion and contraction state is the same as before. Therefore, it becomes an electrostrictive material having no stretching action.

When all the fine particles 2 are aligned in the vertical direction and the electrode 3 is positively or negatively charged, the fine particles 2 are randomly rotated, the thickness of the base material layer 1 is reduced, and the horizontal length and the front-back length are extended. It becomes an electrostrictive material that does not increase in thickness but only changes in area. (Actually, the rotation directions of the fine particles tend to be aligned. Their properties are determined by the distribution density of the fine particles and other conditions.) When the polarized fine particles 2 are spherical, the surrounding base material is dragged by the electric field. Rotates,
These are offset by the top, bottom, left, right, front and back of the sphere, and have almost no effect on the expansion and contraction of the base material layer 1. Therefore, the fine particles 2 are non-spherical, and have an elliptical shape, a cylindrical shape, a disk shape, a cubic shape, or any other shape.

The direction of polarization is preferably in the major axis direction of the particles, but may be in the minor axis direction or the like. For example, when the left and right surfaces of cubic particles are polarized and the upper and lower surfaces are aligned horizontally, if the left surface is rotated by the electric field in a direction that raises the left surface, the distance between the upper left edge and the lower right edge of each particle is long. Therefore, the thickness of the base material layer 1 is increased. When magnetic polarized fine particles are used, magnetic polarized fine particles with a high Curie temperature are polarized in a low melting point metal melt such as an aluminum alloy, cooled with an external magnetic field applied, and a magnetic field in another direction is applied. For example, the fine particles rotate, and the thickness and length of the base metal can be changed.

Several kinds of fine particles having different sizes and shapes may be mixed in the base material layer 1 with their polarization directions aligned. Base material layer 1
The total volume ratio of the polarized fine particles 2 with respect to the volume can be selected arbitrarily, but it should not be made too large because each fine particle must be able to rotate appropriately in the substrate layer.

Next, an example of a method for producing the polarized fine particles 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the elliptical polarized fine particle production apparatus, and 8 is a ceramic cylindrical tube having a built-in heater and heated to 1000 ° C. or higher. 9 is an unheated cylindrical ceramic tube below it. Reference numerals 10 and 11 are electrodes to which a DC voltage of tens of thousands of volts is applied. When an indefinite or spherical PZT fine particle (powder) of other strong melting material having a particle size of about 2 μm is dropped from above the tube 8, the fine particle is melted by the hot air in the tube, and each particle is spherical due to surface tension, Enter the tube 9 and the electrode 10,
It is polarized by the electric field due to 11, and is drawn by both poles to be deformed into an elliptical shape and falls, cooled by cold air, and solidified while being polarized in the elliptical shape.

A magnetic coil is provided in place of the electrodes 10 and 11, and fine particles of the magnet material are dropped into the tube 8 to be melted, and are made spherical by the surface tension, and are made elliptical by the strong magnetic field in the tube 9, and the magnetic It may be polarized to obtain elliptical magnetized fine particles.
Ultra-fine particles of strong-fusion electric material or ferromagnetic material are mixed with a thermoplastic resin and powdered into fine particles having a diameter of about 2 μm.
Alternatively, the resin may be dropped into the tube 8 at a temperature of ℃ to make it spherical, and the resin may be polarized in the tube 9 to be cooled and solidified.

In this case, a similar result may be obtained by using a semi-polymer of thermosetting resin. These particles may be put in a box, or put in a liquid such as oil or water, heated appropriately, and subjected to an electromagnetic field to be held for a long time to strengthen the polarization. FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of another apparatus for producing polarized fine particles. 12 is a ceramic heating cylinder. 13 is a nozzle connected to the cylinder. 14 is a metal piston. 1
5 and 16 are metal rollers. 17 and 18 are cutters.

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and other polymer piezoelectric materials that are polarized in the direction of stretching or the direction of the applied electric field are placed in the cylinder 12 and melted, and the piston 1
4, extruded in a linear shape from the nozzle 13, sandwiched between the rollers 15 and 16 rotating at high speed, and stretched to have a diameter of several μ.
m fibers, sandwiched by cutters 17 and 18 and cut into a cylindrical shape or a disk shape. (The direction of the fibers may be adjusted by an airflow etc.) In addition to the polarization by stretching, the fibers are polarized in the long axis direction by the electric field in the lateral direction due to the voltage applied to the piston 14 and the rollers 15 and 16, and the fragments are also formed. Has polarization in the same direction.

A thermoplastic resin containing ultrafine particles of a strong fusion electric substance or a ferromagnetic substance is put in the cylinder 12, and stretched and cut while applying a transverse electric field or magnetic field to obtain a disk or a cylinder similar to the above. May be. (At the time of stretching, the fine particles also tend to change their postures in the long axis direction.) A thin nozzle is put in the nozzle 13, and then conductive rubber is extruded, so that the base material layer containing fine particles is covered around the conductive rubber. It is also possible to fabricate and then apply a conductive paint to the outer surface of the structure, or triple the nozzles to obtain a product having a conductive layer on the outer surface at once. (A long object is used as an artificial muscle fiber.) While pushing out a core made of rubber containing conductive particles, continuous coiled metal wire, metal-plated synthetic fiber thread, etc. from the center nozzle, sometimes polarize around it. It is possible to extrude the base material layer containing fine particles to cover the tendon fibers in the muscles of the living body, cut the exposed part of the heart, moderately insulate the outer surface, and also use it for one of the lead wires, corresponding to the muscle fibers A conductive flexible adhesive may be applied to the outer surface of the base material layer containing fine particles, and a large number of joints may be joined by imitating the running of muscle fibers of muscles having various outer shapes of the living body to obtain an artificial muscle having a complicated shape. (The length of the portion corresponding to the muscle fiber is also various.) Nozzle 1
You can change the shape of 3 and make a square or hexagonal prism.

The polarized fine particles obtained by these production methods may be used for purposes other than the present invention, and the polarized fine particles obtained by other production methods may be used in the present invention. Next, FIG. 1 and FIG.
A few examples of how to use the electrostrictive material of the present invention described in the above are added. FIG. 6 is a top view of the odd laminated plate. FIG. 7 is a top view of the even laminated plate. FIG. 8 is a front view of those laminated bodies.

Reference numeral 19 indicates a thickness of 0.1 m as shown in FIGS.
Electrostrictive material containing polarized fine particles of about m. Reference numeral 20 denotes a conductive adhesive applied on the surface of which a left front edge is slightly projected.
Reference numeral 21 is an electrostrictive material having a polarity opposite to that of 19, reference numeral 22 is a conductive adhesive applied thereon, and its right front edge is slightly projected. A large number of even-numbered laminated plates 21 are alternately stacked and integrated on the odd-numbered laminated plates made of such an electrostrictive material 19 with an adhesive, as shown in FIG.
It is made into a laminated body like. The left front edge of each conductive adhesive is vertically connected to form an electrode 23, and the right front edge of 22 is connected to form an electrode 24.

When a voltage is applied to the electrodes 23 and 24, they expand and contract to generate a strong force. As shown in the simplified front view of FIG. 9, electrostrictive materials 19 and 21 each having a double lateral width may be folded and overlapped, and the contact surfaces may be bonded with a conductive adhesive to be integrated. In this case, lead wires are connected to the left edge (bent corner) of the odd layer 19 and the right edge (bent corner) of the corner layer 21 and the polarities are selected so that both layers expand and contract in the same direction.

As a method for producing a laminated body, one long continuous piezoelectric material film may be coated on both sides with a conductive adhesive, bent in a zigzag manner, adhered, and integrated. Figure 1
0 is a plan view of the piezoelectric valve. FIG. 11 is a front view thereof. 25 is a hard rubber cylinder having a diameter of about 2 mm. Numeral 26 is a soft rubber tube covering the surrounding area. 27 and 28 are bridges connecting the facing surfaces of their front ends. Reference numeral 29 is an electrostrictive material coil obtained by cutting the electrostrictive material film shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 into a width of about 2 mm, applying an insulating adhesive, and winding the film in a coil shape.
Reference numerals 30 and 31 are lead wires connected to the electrodes.

When a fluid is flown from the front end into the soft rubber tube 26, it flows between it and the cylinder 25, but when the lid wires 30 and 31 are energized, the coil 29 is shortened and the inner surface of the rubber tube 26 approaches the cylinder 25. However, the flow resistance of the flowing fluid increases. By adjusting the applied voltage, the flow rate can be controlled appropriately or the flow can be stopped.

A metal ring may be fitted on the outer surface of the rubber tube 26, the cylinder 25 may be made of a piezoelectric material, and its diameter may be expanded or contracted by the applied voltage to control the flow rate. FIG. 12 is a plan view of a part of a comb-shaped element of a braille two-dimensional display for a computer. FIG. 13 is a front view thereof. 32 has a total left and right length of 3
It is a hard plastic substrate having a length of about 00 mm, a front-back width of 3 mm, and a top-bottom width of about 30 mm. Reference numeral 33 denotes a through hole formed at the left end thereof (actually, there is a similar through hole at the right end as well.) 34 denotes a comb-shaped electrostrictive material plate, which is formed by cutting a laminated plate as shown in FIGS. , The thickness before and after that is 1 mm, and the length of the teeth of the comb is 10 m
m, the total number of teeth is 100 on the left and right, and the lower part is continuous, and the rear surface is connected to the substrate 32 through the upper ends of the conductive adhesive layers 35, 36, 37 etc. which also serve as lead wires for each tooth. It is stuck. Numeral 38 is a tactile projection made of plastic with glass powder or the like added to the upper end of each tooth like a gunpowder attached to the shaft of a match to enhance the feeling of contact. Reference numeral 39 is a metal electrode plate which is attached to the lower surface of the piezoelectric plate 34 with a conductive adhesive and is connected to the ground electrodes of the teeth.

By arranging 100 such elements in the front-rear direction, a braille display for a computer is formed in which 100 × 100 tactile protrusions 38 are arranged vertically and horizontally. They are integrated by screws that pass through the left and right through holes 33, lead wires 35 to 37 connected to the lower teeth of each tactile projection, and the other lead wires are connected to the output circuit of the computer, and one dot of the CRT display or One tactile protrusion corresponds to several dots.

Lead wires 35 to 3 connected to the tactile protrusions 38.
When one of the 7 is energized, one tooth above it is 1 m
extends about m and protrudes about 0.7 mm above the substrate 32,
It becomes one point of Braille, and it is possible to display one page written in Braille, and to display figures, landscapes taken by a TV camera, and the like. If the tactile projection 38 is made sufficiently long and the expansion / contraction distance is set large, the relief-like three-dimensional shape can be displayed by controlling the expansion / contraction degree.

The tactile protrusions 38 may be made to project in advance from the upper surface of the base 32, and their diameters may be made slightly larger so that the upper ends of the respective protrusions are substantially flat when not energized.
The comb-shaped plate 34 has a width of 300 mm, a thickness of 0.1 mm, and a front-rear length of 2
A piezoelectric material film containing polarized fine particles having 100 electrodes provided on the front and back surfaces of a piezoelectric material film of about 00 mm with a width of about 2 mm is zigzag-folded at a pitch of 20 mm.
Using a laminated body that is rolled and integrated with an adhesive, the portion corresponding to the tooth gap is punched out.

Alternatively, the diameter is 0.5 mm and the vertical length is 20 m.
On the upper half of the copper wire of m, a piezoelectric film having a width of 20 mm with electrodes uniformly attached on the front and back surfaces is attached with a conductive adhesive on the portion in contact with the copper wire, and with an insulating adhesive on the other. Winding around
A large number of objects having an outer diameter of 1 mm are produced, 100 pieces are arranged at intervals of 2 mm, and a metal plate having a vertical width of 10 mm and a horizontal width of 300 mm to be a common electrode is attached to the front and back with a conductive adhesive.

The method for producing polarized fine particles will be described again.
FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view of a pulling mill type polarized fine particle manufacturing apparatus. 40 is a ceramic trough-shaped upper mill with a heater whose center side of the bottom surface is slightly higher. 41 is a hole formed on the bottom surface of the top surface. 42 is a ceramic lower mill with a flat top surface and a heater. 43 is a metal shaft. Reference numeral 44 is a cylindrical metal electrode surrounding the lower mill. (The closer to the axis 43, the higher the temperature of the mill may be.) On the upper mill 40, the fine particles of strong fusion electric substance having a diameter of about 2 μm are put, and the upper mill 4
When 0 is rotated by a motor (not shown), the fine particles fall from the hole 41, enter the lower mill 42 where the inside spreads slightly, soften by the heat of the upper and lower mills, and roll between the two gaps. Then, it is transformed into a cylindrical shape and becomes a cylindrical shape having a diameter of about 1 μm, and falls around the lower mill 42. (Sometimes, the upper mill may be slightly reversed.) Since a high voltage is applied between the shaft 43 and the electrode 44, the fine particles are polarized and go out of the mill.

The electrodes 44 and the shaft 43 may be used as magnetic poles, and the ferromagnetic fine particles may be magnetized while having a cylindrical shape. Fine particles may be passed between two heated ceramic rollers and an electric field or magnetic field may be applied in the axial direction of the rollers to obtain cylindrical polarized fine particles. FIG. 15 is a front view showing an example of an apparatus for manufacturing a piezoelectric material film containing polarized fine particles.

45 and 46 are rolling rolls. Reference numeral 47 is a material in which electrically polarized fine particles are dispersed in a thermoplastic polyurethane resin which is fed between the rolls from above, and which is heated to about 170 ° C. and softened. 48 is a material that passes between the rolls and becomes a film with a thickness of about 0.1 mm. 49, 50
Is an inclined electrode. After passing between the rolls, the electric field of the electrodes 49 and 50 acts on the softened film 48,
The orientation of the polarized fine particles inside is the same, and the polarization directions are diagonal. Moreover, cool air is blown below the film 48 by a blower (not shown), the film is solidified, and a product in which the polarized fine particles 2 are dispersed in the base material layer 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is obtained.

The material 47 may be a two-component mixed resin or the like. Heat or radiation may be applied to accelerate the curing reaction. By changing the positions and shapes of the electrodes 49 and 50, the polarization direction of the fine particles 2 can be changed to an arbitrary direction. Electrode 4
Instead of using 9, 50, a magnetic coil may be used to control the direction of the magnetically polarized fine particles.

A stretching roller may be provided below 45 and 46 so that the cylindrical fine particles are oriented in the vertical direction by stretching. The electrically polarized fine particles and the magnetically polarized fine particles are put in one substrate layer 1 so that the polarization directions thereof are aligned with each other or separately, so that they are expanded and contracted in response to an electric field and a magnetic field. You may

In this case, both ultrafine particles may be added to the hard plastic, and the polarization directions of both fine particles may be aligned to one, or may be aligned separately to form polarized fine particles 2 and put in the base material layer 1. Alternatively, PZT and fine particles of a ferromagnetic material having a higher melting point are mixed, PZT is dissolved and solidified,
Fine particles having a diameter of about 2 μm, which are a mixture of the both, may be formed into polarized fine particles by using an apparatus shown in FIG.

The ratio of the total volume of the polarized fine particles 2 to the apparent volume of the base material layer 1 can be arbitrarily selected, but since each fine particle needs to be able to rotate appropriately in the base material layer, the ratio is extremely high. Can not be taken large. The magnetic head of the VTR or tape recorder and the track of the recording tape are often misaligned while the tape is being driven. However, between the magnetic head and the base on which it is mounted, the above-mentioned voltage of about 1 mm is used. The strained material laminate can be bonded and inserted, and its thickness can be changed by a hideback circuit so that the head can be adapted to the track. In such a case, many small through holes are formed in the electrostrictive material. It must be left open, or urethane foam with a foaming rate of about 50% must be used as the base material. If it is a homogeneous material, if its thickness increases or decreases by 10%,
The left and right length must be increased or decreased to the same extent, but they cannot move if they are glued. However, if it is porous, lateral expansion and contraction will be absorbed by expansion and contraction of vacuoles.

For a product in which polarized fine particles are added to the base material, pressure molding or injection molding can be performed by using a shape, but a ceramic, heat resistant plastic, permanent metal (for magnetic fine particles) or the like is used as the mold. , It is necessary to apply an electromagnetic field from the outside during molding to align the directions of the particles. In the case of magnetic particles,
Several electromagnets may be charged in the material of the mold, and the polarization direction may be changed depending on the part of the molded product. You can make a doll in this way, put it in a case with several electromagnets, switch the direction and strength of the magnetic field, and dance.

Even in the case of electrically polarized fine particles, a large number of electrode plates may be charged in one mold, and the polarization direction may be changed depending on the location. It can be placed in a doll case made of 6 transparent electrodes covered with transparent plates, and a voltage can be applied between the electrodes to make them dance. When molding, first mold with a mold that contains only the part that you want to align in one direction, align the polarization direction, take it out of the mold, put it in the next person, and add an additional component that aligns with another polarization direction You may repeat things.

An artificial muscle containing a storage battery and a control circuit that can be charged by electromagnetic induction from the outside, a control circuit that can receive impulses of nerves in the living body, etc. is built and transplanted into the living body instead of the defective muscle. Good. It is also possible to use an induced voltage or an induced current generated by applying strain to the material containing polarized fine particles shown in FIGS.

In various products using conventional electrostrictive materials,
The electrostrictive material of the present invention may be applied. In addition, various designs are possible.

[0051]

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, the strain rate with respect to an applied electric field or magnetic field is remarkably large as compared with the conventional electrostrictive material or magnetostrictive material, and a fluid control valve composed of an artificial muscle for robot or a soft material. , A Braille two-dimensional display for computers, a relief-shaped three-dimensional display, and the like, which is convenient and can be used to obtain an electromagnetic strain material containing polarized fine particles.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a part of a soft electrostrictive material containing polarized fine particles according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 A magnetic coil 7 having printed wiring on a base material layer 1.
FIG.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of an apparatus for producing elliptical polarized fine particles.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of another apparatus for producing polarized fine particles.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an odd laminated plate of an electrostrictive material laminated body.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an even laminated plate.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the laminated body.

FIG. 9 is a simplified front view of a laminate of two-fold laminate plates.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a piezoelectric valve.

FIG. 11 is a front view thereof.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a part of a comb-shaped element of a computer Braille two-dimensional display.

FIG. 13 is a front view thereof.

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a pulling mill type polarized fine particle manufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a front view of an apparatus for manufacturing a piezoelectric material film containing polarized fine particles.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Soft base material layer. 2 Polarized fine particles. 3 electrode layers. 4 electrode layers. 5 Metal parts of electrodes 3 and 4. 6 Exposed part of conductive adhesive. 7 Magnetic coil with printed wiring on the base material layer 1. 8 Heating cylindrical tube with built-in heater. 9 Room temperature ceramic cylindrical tube. 10 Voltage application electrode. 11 Voltage application electrode. 12 heating cylinder. 13 nozzles. 14 pistons. 15 rollers. 16 rollers. 17 Cutter. 18 Cutter. 19 Electrostrictive material. 20 Conductive adhesive. 29 Coil made of electrostrictive material. 32 Hard plastic substrate. 34 Comb-shaped electrostrictive material plate. 38 Tactile protrusion. 40 Upper mill with heater. 42 Lower mill with heater. 43 A shaft made of metal that also serves as an electrode. 44 Cylindrical electrode. 45 rolling roller. 46 Rolling roller. 47 Heat-softened piezoelectric material containing finely polarized particles. 48 Filmized material. 49 Inclined voltage application electrode. 50 inclined voltage application electrode.

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 12, 1993

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When the reticulated electrode is attached, the base material layer may be pulled. You may use it for an electrode layer by making a knitting or other cloth with thin metal wires or carbon fibers and sticking those cloths with the base material layer stretched. When the magnetic coil 7 is manufactured, a large number of C-shaped metal rings are first formed by photoetching, then an insulating layer is attached on the portions where the lines overlap, and then the remaining metal line portions are formed by photoetching. , The state of FIG. You may stack several turns of coil, sandwiching an insulating layer.

[Procedure 3]

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The voltage applied to the electrodes 10 and 11 is changed to a low-frequency or high-frequency alternating current, the falling particles are rotated in the air, and the particles are attracted to one of the electrodes 10 or 11, and the particles adhere to the inner surface of the tube 8 or 9. You may prevent it. A magnetic coil is provided instead of the electrodes 10 and 11, and fine particles of a magnet material are dropped into the tube 8 to be melted, and are spherically formed by surface tension, and are made elliptical by a strong magnetic field in the tube 9, and magnetically polarized, Elliptical magnetized fine particles may be obtained. Ultra-fine particles of strong electric conductor or ferromagnetic material are mixed with thermoplastic resin and powdered into fine particles having a diameter of about 2 μm, which are dropped in a tube 8 at several 100 ° C. to make the resin spherical, and polarized in the tube 9. And may be cooled and solidified. Glass having a low melting point, ceramics, water glass, or the like may be used in place of the thermoplastic resin that serves as the dispersion medium for the ultrafine particles.

[Procedure amendment 4]

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The electrostrictive material of the present invention may be applied to various products using conventional electrostrictive materials. A coil of a very thin enameled copper wire can be stretchably wound around a long and narrow rubber cord with a diameter of 1 mm or less containing magnetically polarized fine particles using neodymium magnet steel, etc., and if the coil is energized, the rubber cord etc. You may make it expand and contract. Polarized fine particles such as cylinders were placed in soft rubber or urethane foam with a foaming ratio of about 50% with the long axis direction parallel to the plane or inclined at 45 °, and electrodes were attached to the front and back surfaces. The thing becomes a kind of condenser. In this case, if a voltage is applied, induced polarization occurs in each particle, and in addition to the same operation as a normal capacitor in which spontaneous polarization increases or decreases, the tilt change of the particle is added and the capacitance increases. If an external force is applied to this material to expand and contract it becomes a piezoelectric element that generates a large piezo voltage, but this material is wrapped around a hard insulating cylinder and then wrapped around the outside again to apply a voltage to the inside or outside thing. It may be expanded and contracted to generate piezo electric power for others to act as a kind of transformer. Columnar fine particles of rutile (titanium oxide) and fine powders of lead oxide, lead acetate and other lead salts, zirconium oxide, zirconium nitrate and other zirconium salts, etc. in alcohol and other organic solvents, in a mixture of alcohol and water, Hydrogen and other oxidizing agents, oxygen gas and other oxidizing agents, potassium hydroxide and other catalysts, etc. are dispersed in water, pure water, etc., and high temperature and high pressure are applied to combine lead and zirconium atoms into the columnar titanium oxide fine particles. Then, the PZT columnar fine particles may be obtained. (Pull it between mills as shown in Figure 14,
Cylindrical rutile may be used as a raw material. ) In the apparatus for manufacturing electrostrictive material containing polarized fine particles shown in FIG. 15, in order to prevent the molten resin film 48 containing polarized fine particles thinned through between the rolls 45 and 46 from being deformed, A similar roller is placed a few meters below, and an endless belt whose surface is coated with a material such as Teflon that easily peels off the heat-resistant cooled and solidified film 48 such as Teflon is applied, and the molten film 48 remains liquid. ,
It may be cooled and solidified while passing between the electrodes 49 and 50, and may be peeled off from between the endless belts below. Alternatively, the film 48 is attached to the outer surface of one endless belt.
Alternatively, the molten liquid may be attached and cooled while passing between the electrodes. Alternatively, two very thin heat-resistant synthetic resin films with the electrode layers 3 and 4 attached to the surface are rolled out, and the sheet 4
7 and the left and right sides of the film 48, and the rolls 45, 4
It is also possible to pass between 6 and downward to obtain an integrated product with electrodes 3 and 4. Other various design changes are possible.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A large number of fine particles electrically or magnetically polarized in a certain direction of the particle shape, which are in the shape of an ellipse, a cylinder, a disk, or other non-spherical shape, are made of plastic, rubber, or the like.
Electromagnetic strain material containing polarized fine particles, which is made by dispersing the polarization direction in a fixed direction in a metal or other elastic material. 2. An electromagnetic strain material system containing polarized fine particles, comprising an electrode or a magnetic coil attached to the surface, or an electrode or a magnetic coil provided at a portion distant from the surface. 3. Ferroelectric or ferromagnetic fine particles are heated and softened in an electromagnetic field and then cooled or hardened, or linearly stretched and cut into an elliptical, cylindrical or discoid shape. A method for producing polarized fine particles used for the material according to claim 1.