Self-healable, high-permittivity elastomers for dielectric elastomer actuators

Johannes von Szczepanski; Patrick M. Danner; Dorina M. Opris

doi:10.1117/12.2658385

28 April 2023 Self-healable, high-permittivity elastomers for dielectric elastomer actuators

Johannes von Szczepanski, Patrick M. Danner, Dorina M. Opris

Proceedings Volume 12482, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXV; 124820E (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2658385
Event: SPIE Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation, 2023, Long Beach, California, United States

Abstract

Polar group-modified polysiloxanes obtained by anionic ring-opening polymerization possess high dielectric permittivity and are of great interest for application in dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs). A self-healing elastomer can be obtained by in situ polymerization and cross-linking using a cyclic siloxane monomer with polar side groups and a cross-linker consisting of multiple connected siloxane rings. In previous works, a non-polar cross-linker has been used, which requires the addition of a solvent for compatibilization with the polar monomer. In polymerization reactions of siloxanes, the addition of solvent leads to a more pronounced formation of cyclic by-products. These cycles impair the mechanical properties of the elastomer and cannot be removed after the reaction, as the material is already cross-linked. Therefore, in this work, we use a polar cross-linker that can be mixed with the polar monomer without adding solvent. Nitrile groups have been studied extensively for increasing the permittivity of the polysiloxane backbone. For a functionalization of 100%, a dielectric permittivity of ~18 was reached. In most cases, the nitrile group was attached to the siloxane backbone in the form of cyanopropyl groups. Still, the influence of the alkyl spacer on the material's dielectric and mechanical properties has not been studied. In this work, we synthesize cyanoalkyl-functional cyclic siloxanes with different lengths of the alkyl spacer and polymerize them solvent-free to high-permittivity polysiloxanes.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Johannes von Szczepanski, Patrick M. Danner, and Dorina M. Opris "Self-healable, high-permittivity elastomers for dielectric elastomer actuators", Proc. SPIE 12482, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXV, 124820E (28 April 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2658385

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available