Factors affecting the surface and release properties of thin polydimethylsiloxane films

Abstract

Polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) elastomers are commonly used as dielectric electroactive polymers (DEAP). DEAP films are used in making actuators, generators and sensors. In the large scale manufacture of DEAP films, release of films from the substrate (carrier web) induces some defects and pre-strain in the films which affect the overall performance of the films. The current research is directed towards investigating factors affecting the peel force and release of thin, corrugated polydimethylsiloxane films used in DEAP films. It has been shown that doping the PDMS films with small quantities of perfluoroether allylamide (PFE) lowered the surface energy which could ease the release. This is further investigated together with an evaluation of the resulting change in actuator performance. The relationship between the adhesive energy, surface energy, Young's modulus and peel force of the films is analyzed.

Novel cross-linkers for PDMS networks for controlled and well distributed grafting of functionalities by click chemistry

“…This is due to the hydrophobic nature of the poly(pentauorostyrene) which causes a migration of the uorinated polymer to the PDMS surface 36 and thus increasing the contact angle and thereby also a possible improvement of release properties for PDMS lms during processing. 8 The lm with 7 showed no increase in contact angle compared to the lm with 2. This is probably due to the low concentration of uorine on this cross-linker which allows the cross-linker to be encapsulated within the PDMS network and no migration to the surface will consequently occur.…”

Electrical breakdown phenomena of dielectric elastomers

“…Co-2 elastomers possess an average electrical breakdown strength of 20 V μm -1 higher than Co-1 elastomers and break down in what seems to be the more commonly observed pattern, namely by solidification of the elastomer around the pinhole and subsequent partial tearing due to the developed stress gradients around the solidified threads. The tearing process is a major challenge in silicone-based dielectric elastomer transducer products since the inherent tear strength of silicone elastomers is usually rather low 30 . In order to get a better idea of the involved breakdown phenomena, SEM/microanalysis was performed as well.…”

Monolithic PDMS Laminates for Dielectric Elastomer Transducers through Open-Air Plasma Treatment

“…The lamination is of high quality since the η of the laminated samples remain more or less unaltered compared to the single, plasma-treated films. Additional interfacial defects such as air bubbles or dust would have caused premature break down [28][29] . It is, however, noticeable that the width of the distribution increases (β decreases) which must mean that the mechanical strength of the interfaces vary so strongly that it causes variation in the electrical properties.…”