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Soft Polydimethylsiloxane Thin Elastomeric Films by In Situ Polymerization to be Used as Dielectricum in Actuators
Author(s) -
Circu Monica V.,
Ko Yee Song,
Gerecke Andreas C.,
Opris Dorina M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.201300457
Subject(s) - materials science , octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane , polydimethylsiloxane , elastomer , silicone , polymerization , monomer , fabrication , composite material , viscosity , photopolymer , silicone oil , thin film , polymer chemistry , polymer , nanotechnology , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
A low‐viscosity, solvent‐free process for the fabrication of thin silicone films for dielectric elastomer actuators is presented. Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane and specially designed co‐monomers that function as cross‐linkers are pre‐polymerized to a liquid of low viscosity. This liquid is used to prepare thin films, which are then fully polymerized to a highly transparent, cross‐linked elastomer. The mechanical and electromechanical properties of the films are easily tuned by altering the amount of cross‐linker co‐monomer used.