Ion containing polymers display certain spectacular mechanoelectrical phenomena when suitably composited with a conductor phase such as a metal, a conductive polymer or graphite—sometimes called ionic polymer conductor composites. When subjected to a dynamic electric field they deform dynamically (actuation), and if dynamically deformed they generate a dynamic electric field (transduction or sensing). Here, we present a description of these phenomena in the linear regime, and in steady-state conditions using the standard Onsager formulation. We describe the underlining principle of ionic polymer-metal composite actuation/sensing phenomena using linear irreversible thermodynamics. When static conditions are imposed, a simple description of the mechanoelectric effect is possible based upon two forms of transport: ion transport (with a current density, J) and electro-osmotic solvent transport (with a flux, Q). The conjugate forces include the electric field, E, and the pressure gradient, -▿p. We also present some estimates on the Onsager coefficients.
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