Modeling, simulation and applications of ionic polymer metal composites

Abstract

In the present study, a multiphysics model is presented to predict the behavior of Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC). The analysis is carried out using commercial software COMSOL. The response of electro actuated IPMC, including the displacement and electric potentials profiles, of the IPMC is numerically calculated. Furthermore, IPMC-fluid interaction is studied with coupling electro-chemo-mechanical model of IPMC with Navier-Stokes equation. The mathematical model used in the numerical analysis consists of three different types of micropumps. Then we focus on the application of IPMC micropump in Biomedical for drug delivery and extracting excess fluid. One of the applications of ionic polymer metal composites is an ophthalmic micropump implant in order to remove excess aqueous humor that may be causing Glaucoma. Therefore, in this study, a low energy IPMC micropump is simulated, in which the fluid is driven by deformation of two IPMC diaphragms. Results show that micropump has the ability to transfer mentioned liquid outside of eye chamber to reduce the pressure and risk of the disease. Another interesting medical application of IPMC micropump is in insulin dispenser device. Simulation of micropump with IPMC diaphragm confirms that IPMC micropump can generate sufficient flow rate of insulin required for treatment of Diabetes. Here, we propose a two-dimensional numerical study on the flow induced by an IPMC cilia vibrating underwater. Concequently, we designed an IPMC cilia integrated micropump that contains various IPMC cilia employed in the upper and bottom side of the fluid channel. Deformation of IPMCs cilia pushes fluid in the channel. Numerical simulation results show that micropump generate fluid flow rate at low electro-potential.