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Effects of silicone rubber on properties of dielectric acrylate elastomer actuator
Author(s) -
Mathew G.,
Rhee J. M.,
Nah C.,
Leo D. J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.20613
Subject(s) - materials science , elastomer , thermogravimetric analysis , silicone rubber , composite material , differential scanning calorimetry , acrylate , interpenetrating polymer network , silicone , attenuated total reflection , swelling , ultimate tensile strength , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , polymer , dielectric , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , copolymer , optoelectronics , engineering , physics , thermodynamics
This article describes the effects of silicone rubber (SR) networks on the actuating behavior of acrylate rubber (AR)‐based dielectric actuators. SR chains were diffused into a swollen AR networks in the presence of a co‐solvent, and then the silicone chains were chemically crosslinked in an attempt to form an interpenetrating polymer network. The presence of SR in the AR network was confirmed by various instrumental analyses including attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The total crosslink density based on a swelling method and tensile properties increased with modification time. The Maxwell stresses were also determined using a pure‐shear specimen. They increased in a parabolic fashion with the applied voltage, and depended on the type of compliant electrode and SR used. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 46:1455–1460, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers.