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Plasticized thermoplastic polyurethanes for dielectric elastomers with improved electromechanical actuation
Author(s) -
Renard Christophe,
Wang Dongrui,
Yang Yu,
Xiong Silai,
Shi ChangYong,
Dang ZhiMin
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.45123
Subject(s) - plasticizer , materials science , composite material , thermoplastic polyurethane , polyurethane , dielectric elastomers , elastomer , dielectric , thermoplastic , thermoplastic elastomer , polyethylene glycol , polymer chemistry , polymer , chemical engineering , copolymer , optoelectronics , engineering
In this article, four different plasticizers are blended in thermoplastic polyurethane (PU) to improve its electromechanical actuation performance. The selected plasticizers include dibutyl phthalate, triphenyl phosphate, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and an unsaturated polyester PMG. The plasticization effect of various plasticizers on the mechanical properties, dielectric properties, and the electromechanical actuation of PU films is carefully characterized and compared. Results demonstrate that the actuated strain under low electric fields and the electromechanical coupling efficiency of PU can be substantially improved by blending with appropriate type and amount of plasticizers. The oligomer‐type plasticizers, PEG and PMG, act more efficiently in the improvement of actuation. An actuated strain in thickness of 1.54%, 140 times higher than that of pure PU, along with an electromechanical coupling efficiency of 0.60 under a low electric field of 5 V/μm was achieved for the PU plasticized with PMG suggesting an attractive approach toward advanced dielectric elastomer actuators. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 45123.