Abstract Scope |
Dielectric elastomer (DE) transducers (DET) are the focus of much research and development, due to their great potential to advance the fields of soft robotics and biomimicry. For some applications, an ideal DE material has a low elastic modulus, low viscoelasticity, high dielectric constant, and high electrical breakdown strength. A commonly used acrylic-based material is VHB4910, which exhibits remarkable properties, when compared against other competing DE candidates. However, those properties are somewhat limited to pre-stretched membranes, which entails additional overhead components in order to completely build DETs. Aiming at eliminating the need for pre-stretch, VHB4910 specimens were cross-linked using Trimethylolpropane Trimethylacrylate, with Benzoyl Peroxide and Azobisisobutyronitrile, as initiators. Variation of initiator ratios led to interesting modifications of material properties, such as elastic modulus and the modulus of toughness, of cross-linked versus non-cross-linked specimens. This study could contribute to advancing knowledge that can lead to the development of simpler DET systems. |