Mechanical, Dielectric, and Electromechanical Properties of Silicone Dielectric Elastomer Actuators

摘要

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.