Vegetable fillers for electric stimuli responsive elastomers. Issue 28 (24th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Poikelispää, Minna; Shakun, Alexandra; Sarlin, Essi; Das, Amit; Vuorinen, Jyrki
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied polymer science. Volume 134:Issue 28(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-03-24
• Subjects: biomaterials -- dielectric properties -- elastomers -- mechanical properties -- sensors and actuators; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1002/app.45081
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8995

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) have been studied widely in recent years for artificial muscle applications, but their implementation into production is limited due to high operating voltages required. The actuation behavior of dielectric elastomer under an applied electric field is predicted by Maxwell's pressure and thickness strain equations. According to these equations, the best electromechanical response is achieved when the relative permittivity is high and elastic modulus is low. The potential source for additives increasing the relative permittivity of rubbers can be vegetable powders that have much higher dielectric constant than common elastomers. In the present research, the dielectric and actuation properties of polyacrylate rubber (ACM) were studied after the addition of different vegetable‐based fillers such as potato starch, corn starch, garlic, and paprika. The results were compared to ACM filled with barium titanate. The compounds containing vegetable fillers showed higher relative dielectric permittivity at 1 Hz frequency than the compounds containing barium titanate due to higher interfacial polarization. The actuation studies showed that lower electric fields are required to generate certain actuation forces when the starches and garlic are used in the rubber instead of barium titanate. Therefore, the vegetable‐based fillers can be used to improve actuation performance of DEAs. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2017, 134, 45081. Abstract :