Polypyrrole/gold bilayers are being developed as micro-actuators for several applications.The goal of this thesis was to use these bilayers in a micro-valve to control female urinaryincontinence. Several substrate materials and designs were investigated, with noteworthyfindings, including the development of a bulk micromachining method for titanium basedon wet etching.Despite past research on polypyrrole/gold bilayers, the relationships between designparameters and performance were unknown. Work completed in this thesis resulted indata showing how the layer thicknesses and hinge length influence actuator bending andforce. Bilayer performance was also examined as a function of temperature and in urine.Bilayer curvature increased at body temperature in a standard electrolyte, but in urinePPy failed at those temperatures.
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