メカノケミカル物質 (人工筋)

抄録

The mechanochemical materials are synthetic polymers (polyelectrolytes) which can directly convert chemical energy into mechanical energy like the muscle. Although their microscopic contractile mechanism is apparently different from that of the skeletal muscle, they are most similar in the property to the muscle fiber when it is immersed in sodium solution. They also have similar properties to the skeletal muscle as well as to the muscle fiber, in view of biopolymers; of the form of the energy conversion, and, of the order of the exerted force and mechanical work divided by the weight of the substance.
In this report, experimental results of mechanical behavior of the mechanochemical materials (crosslinked polyacrylic acid, ion exchange resin, mechanochemical piston packed with the particles, and collagen) are described according to W. Kuhn, A. Katchalsky, his co-workers (A. Oplatka et al.), L. Mandelkern, and the present author.
Rubber elasticity is one important factor to make theoretically clear the mechanical behavior of the mechanochemical materials. The recent theoretical and experimental results by P. J. Flory and the present author in this field are presented for polydimethylsiloxane networks and crosslinked polyacrylic acid.
Treatments towards industrial application (jack and brake by the author, and mechanochemical engine by Katchalsky et al.) are introduced. The problems to be explored for the application are also discussed.