Design, Fabrication, and Analysis of Polymer-Based Microelectromechanical Systems

In this work I report research to develop new design methods, materials, processing and fabrication techniques, devices, experimental results, and system development to realize polymer-based MEMS. Polymer multimodal tactile sensing skins modeled on the human sensory skin, polymer cilia based tactile and flow sensors modeled on arthropod hair sensilla, as well as all-polymer tactile sensors and input devices based on conductive elastomers are presented. In order to realize these devices new methods for fabrication on polyimide substrates, photo-lithographic micro-patterning of composite polymers, large aspect ratio out of plane polymer molding, and embedding multiple layers of conductive polymers in insulating polymers were developed. New design methods for metal film on polymer strain gauges as well as design methods for conductive polymer based elastomers are also presented based on experimental results and theoretical validation. The motivation for this work is to realize low-cost, robust sensors that can conform to curved and biological surfaces and that can withstand direct contact with real-world objects and contaminants.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Engel, Jonathan Mark

Contributors dc:contributor

• Liu, C.

• Engineering, Mechanical

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3250238

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/83863