Electroactive Polymers and Rapid Prototyping Symposia Held November 26-30, 2001, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A

This volume contains the proceedings of two symposia held at the 2001 MRS Fall Meeting in Boston. Electroactive polymers (EAPs) continue to emerge from anonymity to the spotlight of the science and engineering community. The characteristics of inducing large displacements, lightweight, easy processing, low cost and the functionality to emulate biological muscles are making EAPs attractive for consideration in an increasing number of applications. To make these materials actuators-of-choice, however, it is necessary to solidify the technical foundations and identify niche applications where their unique capabilities provide the necessary edge. Papers from the "Electroactive Polymers and Their Applications as Actuators, Sensors, and Artificial Muscles symposium focus on a wide range of these issues, from fundamental materials understanding and characterization, to new material development, to novel device concepts and demonstrations. Papers from the "Rapid Prototyping Technologies--Tissue Engineering to Conformal Electronics symposium outline many different rapid prototyping approaches including fused deposition of ceramics, stereolithography, microstamping, directed assembly, plasma spray, laser particle guidance, MAPLE DW, laser CVD, micropen, inkjet and several novel liquid or droplet microdispensing approaches. One theme common to all techniques is that optimized starling materials are required for high-quality performance in the final structure produced.Bar-Cohen, Yoseph is the author of 'Electroactive Polymers and Rapid Prototyping Symposia Held November 26-30, 2001, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A' with ISBN 9781558996342 and ISBN 1558996346.