Plasticizer-induced enhanced electromechanical performance of natural rubber dielectric elastomer composites. (28th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ni, Yufeng; Yang, Dan; Wei, Qungui; Yu, Liyuan; Ai, Jia; Zhang, Liqun
• Is Part Of: Composites science and technology. Volume 195(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-07-28
• Subjects: Functional composites -- Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) -- Nano particles -- Mechanical properties -- Elastic modulus; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Fibrous composites; Periodicals; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2020.108202
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-3538

Abstract

Abstract: Herein, high-dielectric-constant titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) nanoparticles, modified by γ-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane (referred as mTiO2 ) and polar dioctyl phthalate (DOP), were introduced into natural rubber (NR) to obtain high-performance dielectric elastomer composites. The incorporation of DOP sharply decreased the elastic modulus of mTiO2 /NR composites by decreasing the entanglement between NR chains and weakening the enforcement effect of mTiO2 nanoparticles. At the same time, highly polar DOP improved the dielectric constant of mTiO2 /NR composites and resulted in high electromechanical sensitivity ( β ). Finally, a large actuated strain of 25.3% has been rendered by 50 phr DOP/mTiO2 /NR composite at 40 kV/mm, which is ~10 times higher than pure NR (2.6%) under the same electric field. The present study reveals that the plasticizer-enhanced flexibility of inorganic dielectric filler/polymer composites is an effective method to enhance the electromechanical performance of dielectric elastomer actuators.