In this project we want to study the behaviour that a nylon thread has when, coiled in helical shape, acts like an artificial muscle. We have been able to produce them and we have taken data related with the contraction that they suffer when they are heated with a nicrom resistor. As results, we obtained that their efficiency is really low (between 2 and 13%). The data also reveals that the efficiency grows when the weight they support is heavier and when the power supplied is lower. In relation with the change of initial length when it´s cold, it grows when the weight used in the first heating is heavier. We also studied the relationship between changes in the nylon internal structure and in the length of the muscles through X-ray.

Scientific field

Engineering

Country

Spain

Contestants

Alfonso Mateo Aguarón
Fernando Herce Peña