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Fabrication Process of Silicone-based Dielectric Elastomer Actuators

Fabrication Process of Silicone-based Dielectric Elastomer Actuators

Published on: February 1, 2016

A processable, high-performance dielectric elastomer and multilayering process.

Ye Shi^1,2, Erin Askounis¹, Roshan Plamthottam¹

¹Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|July 20, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a processable, high-performance dielectric elastomer (PHDE) with a bimodal network. This new material achieves high actuation strains without prestretching, enabling efficient multilayer actuators.

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Polymer Chemistry
Actuator Technology

Background:

Dielectric elastomers (DEs) are deformable capacitors generating mechanical work via electric fields.
Current DEs like acrylics and silicones have limitations in strain, prestretching requirements, or processability.
There is a need for high-performance DEs that are processable and achieve large strains without prestretching.

Purpose of the Study:

To synthesize a novel processable, high-performance dielectric elastomer (PHDE).
To tailor the electromechanical properties of the PHDE by controlling its network structure.
To develop an efficient fabrication method for multilayer actuators using the PHDE.

Main Methods:

Synthesis of a PHDE with a bimodal network structure.
Tailoring of elastomer properties via adjustment of cross-linkers and hydrogen bonding.
Fabrication of multilayer actuators using a dry stacking process.

Main Results:

The synthesized PHDE exhibits a maximum areal strain of 190%.
High strains (>110%) are maintained at 2 Hz without prestretching.
Multilayer actuators fabricated via dry stacking retain high actuation performance.

Conclusions:

The developed PHDE offers a promising alternative to existing dielectric elastomers.
The bimodal network structure and tailored properties enable high, prestretch-free actuation.
The efficient dry stacking process facilitates scalable manufacturing of high-performance DE actuators.