Flemion-based actuator for mechanically controlled microwave switch

Amicrowave,switch based on EAP presents several advantages. A switch ,based on Flemion ,is studied. Flemion a perfluorinated carboxylic acid membrane ,shows ,improved ,performance ,as actuator ,material compared ,with Nafion (perfluorinated sulfonic acid). Flemion has a higher ion exchange,capacity and good mechanical,strength. In order to get agood Flemion actuator, highly conductive soft gold electrodes with large fractal structure have to be deposited on the membrane. The impregnation reduction technique used for plating requires exchange,of a gold complex,and reduction by gradual sodium ,sulfite additions. K, shows ,the highest exchange ,ratio with the gold complex ,and reducing bath temperatures,around 60°C with ,enough ,reducing agent present are shown ,to promote ,the growth ,of a ,gold fractal structure. The resulting material shows an actuation displacement with no relaxation, a key feature for switch applications. A simple mechanical switch based on a flemion actuator is prepared and tested as a microwave,switch. Keywords: electroactive polymer (EAP), ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC), Flemion, Nafion, actuator, microwave switch.