IImagine a future where smart flooring and bedding can detect movement, monitor heart rate, or alert caregivers when a person falls. Imagine smart textiles continuously measuring and transmitting biomedical information about the wearer, or steerable catheters and surgical guides whose direction can be adjusted with sub-millimeter precision. That future is closer than ever.
Arkema is advancing the development of electroactive polymers (EAPs), a unique class of materials capable of converting mechanical stimuli into electrical signals and vice versa. Their development relies on close collaboration between manufacturers, universities, research institutes and industry associations across France and internationally. Such partnerships are essential to accelerate the journey from scientific discovery to real-world applications.
Printable electroactive polymers enable the fabrication of thin, flexible and lightweight devices with large active surfaces. They can be processed using scalable manufacturing technologies and support the development of more sustainable, recyclable electronic systems. By making objects responsive and intelligent, these materials are already used in applications ranging from haptic actuators in watches and smartphones to advanced ultrasound imaging systems.
Today, new generations of electroactive polymers are opening even broader opportunities. Flexible sensor networks based on these materials can monitor the structural health and safety of lithium-ion batteries and hydrogen storage tanks, helping detect stress, deformation or early signs of failure. They also enable highly sensitive electronic skins (e-skins) capable of sensing pressure, touch and movement with a level of sensitivity approaching that of human skin. Such technologies are expected to play a key role in next-generation robotics, including dexterous humanoid robot hands that can interact safely and naturally with people and their environment.
From healthcare and mobility to energy storage and human-machine interaction, electroactive polymers are helping build a smarter, safer and more sustainable future.
Associated SDG Targets
