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In addition to electroactive or functionally smart ceramics and metals, in recent years the use of polymers has aroused much
interest. While still important structurally, polymers are beginning to show many of the electronic, magnetic and optical characteristics traditionally observed in ceramics, either in purely polymeric form or in
association with ceramics in the form of composites. In particular, the emergence of electroactive polymers with large displacements has brought these materials in the foreground of smart structures. In
addition to lightweight, ease of processing and fabrication, because of their resilience and ability to induce large strains, they show much similarity to biological muscles: |
