New materials with large value for dielectric constant were obtained by using siloxane and chemically modified lignin. The modified lignin does not act as a stiffening filler material for the siloxane but acts as bulk filler, preserving the softness and low value of Young’s modulus specific for silicones. The measured values for dielectric constant compare positively with the ones for previously tested dielectric elastomers based on siloxane rubber or acrylic rubber loaded with ceramic nanoparticles. The new materials use the well-known silicone chemistry and lignin which is available worldwide in large amounts as a by-product of pulp and paper industry, making its manufacturing affordable. The prepared dielectric elastomers were tested for possible applications for wave, wind and kinetic body motion energy harvesting. Siloxane, lignin, dielectric
Dielectric Elastomer Transducers (DETs) are deformable capacitors that can be used as sensors, actuators and
generators. The design of effective and optimized DETs requires the knowledge of a set of relevant properties of the
employed Dielectric Elastomer (DE) material, which make it possible to accurately predict their electromechanical
dynamic behavior.
In this context, an open-access database for DE materials has been created with the aim of providing the practicing
engineer with the essential information for the design and optimization of new kinds of DET. Among the electrical
properties, dielectric susceptibility, dielectric strength and conductivity are considered along with their dependence on
mechanical strain. As regards mechanical behavior, experimental stress-strain curves are provided to predict
hyperelasticity, plasticity, viscosity, Mullins effect and mechanical rupture. Properties of commercial elastomeric
membranes have been entered in the database and made available to the research community.
This paper describes the instrumentations, experimental setups and procedures that have been employed for the
characterization of the considered DE materials. To provide an example, the experimental data acquired for a
commercially available natural rubber membrane (OPPO Band Red 8012) are presented.
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