An investigation of using a silicone elastomer ethanol composite material for an arm rehabilitation device
Mustonen, Charlotta Cecilia (2020)
2020
All rights reserved. This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020052714209
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020052714209
Tiivistelmä
Soft robotics is an emerging field of robotics, which uses materials that have a Young’s modulus close to that of biological matter. In contrast to rigid robots, soft robotic materials are being used in applications where adaptability and flexibility are required. Studies have proven that soft robotic devices have successfully been used in rehabilitation purposes.
The aim of this thesis was to manufacture a relatively economical, easy, and safe actuator that could be used in the rehabilitation of a person with weakened arm motor function. The composite synthesized in this thesis was composed of a matrix material Addition Curing RTV-2 Mould Silicone 1520. Ethanol was added as phase change material and mixed and cured with the liquid silicone. In this process, ethanol vapours and air pockets are formed inside the material lowering the internal pressure to achieve equilibrium with the external pressure. When the material was heated to a temperature of 78,2 °C or higher the ethanol started to boil, and the pressure grew forcing the silicone elastomer to undergo an expansion to get rid of the excess pressure to achieve equilibrium. Proposition of a design that could be used for rehabilitation purposes was done and tested using SolidWorks. After this, an analysis of the compatibility of the composite material to the design and improvement ideas for further research was done. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and governments decision to close the school, the thesis experiments could not fully be finished.
The aim of this thesis was to manufacture a relatively economical, easy, and safe actuator that could be used in the rehabilitation of a person with weakened arm motor function. The composite synthesized in this thesis was composed of a matrix material Addition Curing RTV-2 Mould Silicone 1520. Ethanol was added as phase change material and mixed and cured with the liquid silicone. In this process, ethanol vapours and air pockets are formed inside the material lowering the internal pressure to achieve equilibrium with the external pressure. When the material was heated to a temperature of 78,2 °C or higher the ethanol started to boil, and the pressure grew forcing the silicone elastomer to undergo an expansion to get rid of the excess pressure to achieve equilibrium. Proposition of a design that could be used for rehabilitation purposes was done and tested using SolidWorks. After this, an analysis of the compatibility of the composite material to the design and improvement ideas for further research was done. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and governments decision to close the school, the thesis experiments could not fully be finished.