Circular compliant electrodes of diameter 8 mm were applied
on the top and bottom surfaces at the centre of the stretched polymer
film; the electrode material was a conductive grease (a mixture
of graphite and silicon oil) procured from MG Chemicals
(Ontario, Canada) and was applied to the polymer via PTFE masks
with circular holes, which were then removed; the same material
was used to create thin conductive paths which were connected
to insulated copper wires of diameter 0.5 mm, as in Pelrine et al.
(2000a) and as sketched in Fig. 1a. Note that the compliant electrodes
had a much smaller diameter than that of the plastic tube,
in order to allow actuation of the electrode portion of the EAP