Mechanical, dielectric, and electromechanical properties of silicone dielectric elastomer actuators

Abstract

Silicone elastomer actuators were investigated to develop a simple and industrially scalable product with improved mechanical properties, such as a low modulus, high tearing strength, and good resilience, and enhanced electromechanical actuation properties. Silicone elastomers were fabricated via a hydrosilylation addition reaction with a vinyl-end-functionalized poly(dimethyl siloxane) (V), a multivinyl-functionalized silicone resin, and a crosslinker in the presence of a platinum catalyst. For the larger electromechanical actuation response, the silicone dielectric elastomer actuator had to have a larger molecular weight of poly(dimethyl siloxane), a smaller hardener content, and a resin-free composition. However, the silicone elastomer actuators needed to include a small amount of resin to improve the tearing strength. V C 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40030.

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