This　paper　presents　an　experimental　study　on　the　life　and　nonlinear　actuation　behaviors　of　the　V-shaped　SU-8　based　electrothermal　microactuators.　The　copper　and　SU-8　photoresist　are　used　to　fabricate　the　V-shaped　electrothermal　microactuators　in　this　work.　The　combination　of　the　two　materials　offers　large　motion　actuation　and　many　flexibilities　for　micro-robot　gripper　integration　and　designs.　For　the　manipulation　of　micro-scaled　objects,　such　as　biological　cells,　the　micro-robot　grippers　are　required　to　move　fairly　accurate　so　not　to　cause　any　damage　to　the　micro-object.　In　real-world　micro-actuations,　however,　the　nonlinearities　of　the　electrothermal　actuation　add　inaccuracies　and　even　uncertainties　to　the　control　of　the　micro-robot　grippers.　This　results　in　challenges　for　accurately　controlling　the　micromanipulations　with　mechanical　micro-robot　grippers.　In　this　work,　three　sources　of　nonlinearity,　i.e.,　material　properties,　oxidation,　and　failure,　are　investigated　experimentally　in　both　static　and　dynamic　aspects.　Detailed　discussions　and　experimental　results　are　given　to　provide　insight　and　guidance　on　the　appropriate　actuation　and　control　of　the　V-shaped　electrothermal　microactuators　and　micro-robot　grippers.　©　2018　IEEE.