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Enhancement of the actuation performance of dielectric triblock copolymers modified with additives
Author(s) -
Jang Yeonju,
Hirai Toshihiro,
Ueki Takamitsu,
Kato Toshinori
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.3176
Subject(s) - materials science , elastomer , copolymer , acrylate , methyl methacrylate , composite material , plasticizer , dielectric , methacrylate , ultimate tensile strength , polymer chemistry , polymer , optoelectronics
To enhance actuation performance without prestrain, an elastomeric acrylic triblock copolymer, poly(methyl methacrylate)‐ block ‐poly( n ‐butyl acrylate)‐ block ‐poly(methyl methacrylate), was modified with two kinds of additives, oligomeric poly( n ‐butyl acrylate) and the plasticizer dibutyl sebacate. An actuator modified with those additives showed about 6% strain, whereas the unmodified actuator showed only 1% strain for the same applied electric field without prestrain. In addition, actuation was attained at lower critical electric field strength (625 and 1000 V mm −1 for modified and unmodified actuators, respectively). Upon increasing the amounts of the additives, the electrically induced actuation velocity and degree of deformation increased. These results are explained by the dielectric and mechanical properties of the elastomers. The dielectric constants for elastomers modified with dibutyl sebacate were larger than those for elastomers modified with oligomeric poly( n ‐butyl acrylate). The initial tensile stresses of both of the modified elastomers were much smaller than that of unmodified elastomer. The results provide a route to enhancing actuation performance of dielectric elastomers without prestrain. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry