Four different plasticizers were applied to make different poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) gels, poly(vinyl chloride)‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate (PVC‐DOP), poly(vinyl chloride)‐di‐n‐butylphthalate, poly(vinyl chloride)‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl)adipate, and poly(vinyl chloride)‐tris(2‐ethylhexyl)trimellitate. In our previous work, we reported that PVC‐DOP gel exhibits novel and reversible deformations of creeping and jointlike bending induced by direct current electric fields. In this article, we scrutinize the effects of plasticizers on electromechanical actuations, that is, reversible creeping and bending actuation with four of the different aforementioned gels. We measured the relative creeping distance, creeping area, creeping velocity, current observed, and bending angle as a function of applied electric fields for different PVC gels and found significant differences among them. To explain these variations, we compared the utility of plasticizers on the basis of the properties of different PVC gels, such as plasticizer‐retention ability, bending modulus, elongation at break, and the dielectric constant. The mentioned properties of the PVC gels played vital roles on their electromechanical actuations. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2119–2127, 2003

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We have successfully actuated a non-ionic poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) gel by applying a dc electric field, and found a localized creeping deformation, which induced a novel type large bending of the gel rod just like a joint in a body. The gel was composed of PVC and dioctylphthalate (DOP), and was free of electrolytes. We proposed a tentative mechanism for the reversible and remarkable deformation. It could be an advantage over conventional electroactive gels for durability and performance in practical applications as a new class of soft functional materials.

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We actuated poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) gel by applying a do field, and found localized creeping deformation, which induced swift, huge bending like a joint. The bending angle reached ca.150° at maximum at the field of 1000 V mm-1 with the velocity of ca. 90° s-1. The electric current was very small and in the range of 68 nA cm-2 . The mechanism of reversible, marked bending was studied using blocking and contact electrodes. The gel consisted of PVC and dioctyl phthalate (DOP), and was free of electrolytes. The concept is simple and applicable to conventional polymer materials. It could serve for developing new classes of soft and durable mechanically functional materials.