EAP material and product manufacturers

This website is part of the WW-EAP Webhub that covers the topic of electroactive polymers (EAP) that are also known as artificial muscles. It was prepared by Dr. Yoseph Bar-Cohen, a Senior Research Scientist and Group Supervisor at JPL, and it is one of the links of his JPL’s NDEAA Webhub. This website was prepared in an effort to help answering the question: “where can I get these materials?” and to help those who cannot make the material themselves by following the description on the WW-EAP Recipe website. While the following list may not cover every EAP company in the world it includes most of the companies that Dr. Bar-Cohen was aware of their existence.

Company Name, Contact person, E-mail, Website	EAP materials/processes/products
Artificial Muscle, Inc. (AMI) is now listed as ViviTouch	See ViviTouch
Compliant Transducer Systems Ueberlandstrasse 129 CH-8600 Duebendorf Dr. Gabor Kovacs Co-founder and CEO Mail: gabor.kovacs@ct-systems.ch Web: www.ct-systems.ch	Compliant Transducer Systems (CTsystems) is a spin-off company of Empa Switzerland. Development, manufacturing and commercialization of compliant electro mechanical transducers represent the mission of the CTsystems. The key technology and core knowhow of CTsystems is based on designing and producing of EAP devices in multi-layer stack configuration with contraction motion. The product is producing noise-free and efficient, controllable linear motion when electric voltage is applied. These compact and inexpensive devices are used as soft actuator-sensor transducers in highly integrated mechatronic systems in the field of automotive, multimedia, robotic and automation industry.
Danfoss PolyPower A/S Member of the Danfoss group DK-6440 Nordborg Denmark Ken Graversen Director Sales & Marketing Michael Hamann General Manager and President PolyPower@Danfoss.com Web: http://www.PolyPower.com/	DEAP material with patented design of the metal electrodes deposited on a micro structured elastomer surface Available evaluation samples ready for ordering PolyPower film InLastor Push or InLastor Pull Control electronics
EAMEX Corporation 3-9-30 Tarumicyo Suita, Osaka 564-0062, Japan Shingo Sewa or Kazuo Onishi; Web: web@eamex.co.jp http://www.eamex.co.jp/index_e.html	EAP actuators for medical applications (nursing equipment, catheter, guide wires, and rehabilitation instrument); robotics; industry (manipulator and conveyance equipment); hobby and art, as well as customized EAP products. Specifically, Materials 1. Actuators and sensors made of ion-conductive membranes 2. Ion-conductive actuator rods 3. Conductive Polymer Actuators based on PPy Devices 1. Auto-focus device for mobile phones using ion-conductive polymer 2. Micro pump for fuel cell or other small application EAP based hand
ElastiSense Bjerndrup Bygade 23, DK 6200, Denmark Rahim Sarban CEO Jorgen Pedersen Sales and marketing manager Tel: +45 22 11 03 68 Email: contact@elastisense.com Web: www.elastisense.com	ElastiSense is producer and supplier of industrial sensors based on EAP technology. The patented design of the sensors enables micro-meter precision sensing even in the most mechanically and environmentally aggressive applications. ElastiSense products are: 1. Displacement Sensors, 2. Portable Test Kits, 3. Turnkey process monitoring and control solutions.
EMPA: Swiss federal laboratory of Materials Science and Technology www.empa.ch/eap Überlandstrasse 129, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland Gabor Kovacs, Ph.D. Senior Scientist gabor.kovacs@empa.ch Silvain Michel Head of EAP Group silvain.michel@empa.ch	· Material: Dielectric Elastomer Actuator (Acrylic, silicone,...) · Design: Rolled, Planar and Stack Actuators in the Macro Scale · Chemical Synthesis and Post-processing, Pre-Industrial Manufacturing facilities, Determination of Material Properties, Modeling of visco- hyperelastic DE Materials
Environmental Robots Incorporated 909 Virginia, NE., Suite 205, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108, USA www.environmental-robots.com NOTE: ERI offers complimentary samples. For information please visit their website, click on products and then on complimentary samples.	· IPMC-based and ionic polymer actuators, transducers, and sensors · IPMC and conductive polymer EAP for biomedical engineering and medical applications · Kits of bending and contractile EAP, ionic polymeric fiber bundles, conductive polymers and chemically activated polymers IPMC
LEAP Technology Science and Technology Park Diplomvej 381, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby Denmark Dr. Alan Poole Director and Partner Email: alan@leaptechnology.com Tel: +45 21782231	LEAP Technology provides product development services for companies who wish to utilize EAP technology in their product and applications. It uses its experience in commercial understanding of the technology for technology integration and it provides: 1. Application requirement analysis, 2. Products conceptual design, 3. System modelling and simulation, 4. Detailed design, 5. Prototyping, 6. Experimentation design and setup, 7. Performance evaluation, 8. Optimization of the product performance, 9. Process design, 10. Market research and funding possibilities.
MCNC Research and Development Institute NC 2770 Scott Goodwin goodwin@mcnc.org, Web: http://www.mcnc.org/rdi/	Dielectric EAP device development and prototyping of · "Artificial Eyelid" polymer flexible film · Electrostatic MEMS actuator · Integrated force array and electrostatic polymer actuator Artificial Eyelid
Molecular Mechanisms LLC Customer Support, sales@molecularmechanisms.com, Web: www.molecularmechanisms.com	· Development of EAP based mechanisms · Polypyrrole (PPy) tapes for Conductive Polymers (CP) EAP Bilayer CP EAP activated in air
NanoSonic, Inc. 1485 S. Main Street Blacksburg, VA  24060 Richard O. Claus, President; info@nanosonic.com; Web: http://www.nanosonic.com	· Low modulus sensors for strain, vibration and fluid flow · Free-standing conductive and reflective elastomeric membranes · Flexible electroding for EAP actuators using modified self-assembly (demonstrated for dielectric EAP) Stretchable electroding material
PolyK Technologies 2124 Old Gatesburg Rd, State College, PA 16803, USA Shihai Zhang Founder and CEO Email: energy@polyktech.com Web: www.polyk-lab.com	PolyK Technologies is a high tech company specialized in high voltage dielectric, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and electroactive polymer EAP materials, applications, related low cost test instrument, and manufacturing machines. The Lab Division of PolyK provides the following products to support academic R&D in EAP technologies: 1. Over thirty different PVDF, PVDF copolymers, PVDF terpolymers, PTFE homopolymers, copolymers, and terpolymers resins sold in small quantity (<100 g). 2. Piezoelectric film made with PVDF, PVDF-TrFE and PVDF-TFE, from 3 um to 1000 m thick. 3. High voltage dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric test instruments with low cost. Such as turnkey dielectric test system to measure dielectric constant and loss vs frequency, temperature, and DC bias voltage (up to 4000 Vdc), ferroelectric polarization loop and dielectric breakdown test system, TSDC and pyroelectric current measurement system, etc. 4. Table-top EAP film orientation machine and pilot scale R2R EAP film production machines: solvent cast, extrusion, machine direction orientation, etc. 5. Provide test services on high voltage dielectric and ferroelectric materials, including routine high voltage test, dielectric test, and polymer morphology and property test.
Quantum Technology Pty. Ltd. 5 South Street, Rydalmere, N.S.W. 2126, Australia Tim Connell tconnell@quantech.com.au Web: http://www.quantech.com.au/ Australia	· Development of EAP actuators for Braille Cells as an aid to visually impaired and blind.
StretchSense Limited 27 Walls Road, Penrose, Auckland 1061 New Zealand +64 9 634 1927 Ben O’Brien, CEO sales@stretchsense.com support@stretchsense.com Web: http://www.stretchsense.co.nz A Biomimetics Laboratory spin-out	StretchSense has combined revolutionary soft polymer sensors with BluetoothTM connectivity to make it easy to measure soft structures like the human body. 1) Measure large strains unobtrusively using soft silicone or fabric sensors. 2) Record data on your BluetoothTM enabled smartphone, tablet or lamptop.
Strategic Polymer Sciences, Inc. (SPS) 200 Innovation Blvd., Suite 237 State College, PA 16803 814-238-7400 Dean Anderson, Director of Operations danderson@strategicpolymers.com Web: http://www.StrategicPolymers.com http://twitter.com/strategicplymrz	• Manufactures electroactive polymer (EAP) films for high dielectric constant fluoropolymers as well as commercializes the following: • High energy density capacitors • High strain actuators • Solid-state active cooling modules
SynapTech 500 E Washington, Suite 10 Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (734) 408-1327 Eugene Daneshvar ddaneshvar@gmail.com http://www.SynapTech.co synaptictechnologies@gmail.com	SynapTech specializes in design, fabrication, and development of movable microelectrode arrays for neural interfaces.  Our articulating neural interfaces can guide the trajectory as well as the proximity of the electrode sites to the neural tissue.  Our actuating technology can easily be integrated with retinal electrodes, cochlear implants, peripheral nerve cuffs, ECoG arrays as well as implantable cortical arrays. Multiple patents pending.
ViviTouch | A Bayer Brand Corporate Headquarters address 1320 Orleans Drive Sunnyvale, CA 94089 408-215-7320 David Humphreys Director of Global Sales and Marketing Direct: 408-215-7362 www.vivitouch.com *Founded by SRI International	The company, ViviTouch®actuators, Bayer MaterialScience LLC, produces cinematic sensation that bridges the senses of seeing, hearing and feeling. ViviTouch HD Feel is used in mobile phones, gaming controllers, tablets and wearable devices to bring High Definition feel to the entertainment and lifestyle experience. ViviTouch 4D Sound can make headphones come alive by amplifying the experience of hearing.  In addition to the ViviTouch®, the company is actively advancing its EAP technology and expanding the serviced markets for force sensing, power generation, valves, pumps, optical positioners, and medical applications.   For evaluation kits - please contact the company directly.

Also, the following are suppliers of PVDF films:

· KTech

· Measurement Specialties, Inc.

· AIRMAR Technology Corp.

· PIEZOTECH S.A. (France)