Nafion Simultaneous Humidification and Actuation Feasibility

The purpose of this work was to assess if a single material could be made to humidify air and pump it at the same time. Useful commercial air volumes and measurable humidity outcomes were used for determining commercial viability, ideally in the medical device space, and considering what would be the likely costs of the materials to achieve current industrial or medical needs. Mechanisms were identified in the literature and the best was selected and utilised. Many additional parameters, which were not necessary for function, but were essential for medical device commercialisation, also had to be accommodated. Persistent hydration was essential to keep functional actuation, but the hydration methods had to use fluids that could be in contact with humans. The temperature, pH and toxicity of many Ionic Polymer Metal Composite environments removed many promising materials from the list of possible choices. The method of selecting IPMC material, the technical hurdles overcome to study the material once it was manufacturable and the quantifications undertaken are a good example of how to check and assess feasibility in a highly constrained design space. The adventure continues.