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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Fabrication Process of Silicone-based Dielectric Elastomer Actuators
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Published on: February 1, 2016

Artificial muscles based on synthetic dielectric elastomers.

Qibing Pei1

  • 1Soft Materials Research Laboratory, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1595, USA. qpei@seas.ucla.edu

Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference
|December 8, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed advanced acrylic elastomers for artificial muscles, achieving 300% actuation strain. These interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) offer high energy density and electromechanical coupling for enhanced performance.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Science
  • Robotics

Background:

  • Dielectric elastomers like acrylic copolymers, silicone, and thermoplastic block copolymers are explored as artificial muscles.
  • High actuation strain, pressure, and energy density are observed in these materials under high voltage.
  • Chemical and processing factors are crucial for optimizing actuation performance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) for enhanced artificial muscle performance.
  • To explore the role of prestrain and network architecture in dielectric elastomer actuation.
  • To present novel actuators based on developed IPN and prestrained acrylic films.

Main Methods:

  • Development of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) with acrylic and additive networks.

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  • Application of high voltage across thin polymer films to induce actuation.
  • Characterization of actuation strain, energy density, and electromechanical coupling factor.

    • Main Results:

    • IPN films achieved up to 300% actuation strain at zero or nominal prestrain.
    • Calculated maximum actuation energy density reached 3.5 J/g.
    • Electromechanical coupling factor was determined to be 93.7%.

    Conclusions:

    • Interpenetrating polymer networks significantly enhance actuation performance in dielectric elastomers.
    • Prestrain and IPN architecture are key factors for achieving high actuation in artificial muscles.
    • The developed IPN and prestrained acrylic films show promise for advanced actuator applications.