Characterization of slide ring materials for dielectric elastomer actuators

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Shintake ◽  
Koya Matsuno ◽  
Kazumasa Baba ◽  
Hiromitsu Takeuchi
Keyword(s):  
Electric Fields ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Dielectric Strength ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Elongation At Break ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer Actuators ◽  
Elastomeric Materials ◽  
Mechanical Performances

Abstract This paper investigates the characteristics of sliding ring materials (SRMs), which are promising elastomeric materials for dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs). Two different types of SRMs with Young's modulus of 0.8 MPa and 3.3 MPa, respectively, are prepared, and their material and mechanical properties and electro-mechanical performances at electric fields of up to 30 V/um are characterized. For comparison, the same tests are also performed on several commercially available elastomers: Elastosil 2030, Ecoflex 00-30, CF19-2186, and VHB 4905. The results reveal that SRMs demonstrate negligible Mullins effect and hysteresis, while their dielectric strength (62.4‒112.4 V/µm) and viscoelasticity (tan⁡δ 0.07‒0.24 at 10 Hz) are comparable or even superior to those of other elastomers. In addition, elongation at break is found to be 163.8‒172.1%. SRMs exhibit excellent electro-mechanical performance; for instance, one of the two types has an actuation force 293.2 mN at 24.9 V/µm and a strain of 5.2% at 22.3 V/µm. These values are the largest or larger than most of the tested elastomers. The high performance of SRMs results from their dielectric constant, which ranges from 10.3‒13.4, leading to an electro-mechanical sensitivity of up to 15.3 MPa-1. These results illustrate SRMs as attractive material options for DEAs.

Fabrication and characterization of linear motion dielectric elastomer actuators

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Young Jung ◽  
Nguyen Huu Chuc ◽  
Jung Woo Kim ◽  
Ig Mo Koo ◽  
Kwang Mok Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Linear Motion ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer Actuators ◽  
Fabrication And Characterization

Properties of a Dielectric Elastomer Actuator Modified by Dispersion of Functionalised Carbon Nanotubes

2012 ◽  
Vol 79 ◽  
pp. 41-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabia Galantini ◽  
Sabrina Bianchi ◽  
Valter Castelvetro ◽  
Irene Anguillesi ◽  
Giuseppe Gallone
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Dielectric Constant ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Broad Class ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Low Dielectric ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer Actuators ◽  
Electromechanical Transduction ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Simple Matrix

Among the broad class of electro-active polymers, dielectric elastomer actuators represent a rapidly growing technology for electromechanical transduction. In order to further develop this applied science, the high driving voltages currently needed must be reduced. For this purpose, one of the most promising and adopted approach is to increase the dielectric constant while maintaining both low dielectric losses and high mechanical compliance. In this work, a dielectric elastomer was prepared by dispersing functionalised carbon nanotubes into a polyurethane matrix and the effects of filler dispersion into the matrix were studied in terms of dielectric, mechanical and electro-mechanical performance. An interesting increment of the dielectric constant was observed throughout the collected spectrum while the loss factor remained almost unchanged with respect to the simple matrix, indicating that conductive percolation paths did not arise in such a system. Consequences of the chemical functionalisation of carbon nanotubes with respect to the use of unmodified filler were also studied and discussed along with rising benefits and drawbacks for the whole composite material.

scholarly journals Fabrication and Characterization of Biodegradable Composites from Poly (Butylene Succinate-Co-Butylene Adipate) and Taihu Lake Blue Algae

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 096369351702600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjing Xia ◽  
Nianqing Zhu ◽  
Zhongbin Ni ◽  
Mingqing Chen
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Taihu Lake ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Melt Blending ◽  
Butylene Succinate ◽  
Elongation At Break ◽  
Biodegradable Composites ◽  
Thermal Stability Of

Biodegradable composites from poly (butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA) and Taihu Lake (Wuxi, China) blue algae were prepared by melt blending. The property and structure of biocomposites were investigated. By adding extra amount of water to blue algae, the formulated blue algae acted as a plastic in the composites during blending, and exhibited a reinforcing effect on the PBSA matrix. With increasing blue algae content, the thermal stability of the composites decreased; the tensile strength at break and elongation at break of the composites reduced, but the Young's modulus of the composites increased. However, the composite with 30% blue algae loading still exhibited good mechanical performance (tensile strength at break of 21.3 MPa, elongation at break of 180%). The fabrication of value-added PBSA/algae composites appeared as an effective approach to reduce the secondary environmental pollution of Taihu blue algae.

scholarly journals Improved Mechanical and Electrochemical Properties of XNBR Dielectric Elastomer Actuator by Poly(dopamine) Functionalized Graphene Nano-Sheets

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Yang ◽  
Xinxin Kong ◽  
Yufeng Ni ◽  
Mengnan Ruan ◽  
Shuo Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrochemical Properties ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Dielectric Strength ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Hydroxyl Groups ◽  
Butadiene Rubber ◽  
Functionalized Graphene ◽  
Filler Dispersion ◽  
Phenolic Hydroxyl Groups

In this work, graphene nano-sheets (GNS) functionalized with poly(dopamine) (PDA) (denoted as GNS-PDA) were dispersed in a carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber (XNBR) matrix to obtain excellent dielectric composites via latex mixing. Because hydrogen bonds were formed between –COOH groups of XNBR and phenolic hydroxyl groups of PDA, the encapsulation of GNS-PDA around XNBR latex particles was achieved, and led to a segregated network structure of filler formed in the GNS-PDA/XNBR composite. Thus, the XNBR composite filled with GNS-PDA showed improved filler dispersion, enhanced dielectric constant and dielectric strength, and decreased conductivity compared with the XNBR composite filled with pristine GNS. Finally, the GNS-PDA/XNBR composite displayed an actuated strain of 2.4% at 18 kV/mm, and this actuated strain was much larger than that of pure XNBR (1.3%) at the same electric field. This simple, environmentally friendly, low-cost, and effective method provides a promising route for obtaining a high-performance dielectric elastomer with improved mechanical and electrochemical properties.

Hydrostatically Coupled Dielectric Elastomer Actuators: New Opportunities for Haptics

2011 ◽  
Vol 1312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Carpi ◽  
Gabriele Frediani ◽  
Danilo De Rossi
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Relative Displacement ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Tactile Feedback ◽  
Haptic Interfaces ◽  
Silicone Grease ◽  
Performance Technology ◽  
Hydrostatic Transmission ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer Actuators

ABSTRACTDielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) have been demonstrated to represent today a high-performance technology for electromechanical transducers based on electroactive polymers. As a means to improve versatility and safety of DEAs for several fields of application, so-called ‘hydrostatically coupled’ DEAs (HC-DEAs) have recently been described. HC-DEAs are based on an incompressible fluid that mechanically couples a DE-based active part to a passive part interfaced to the load, so as to enable hydrostatic transmission. This paper presents ongoing developments of bubble-like HC-DEAs and their promising potential application in the field of haptics. In particular, the first part of the paper describes a static and dynamic characterization of a prototype actuator made of two pre-stretched membranes (20 mm wide, 1.8 mm high, and 60 μm thick) of 3M VHB acrylic elastomer, coupled via silicone grease. The actuator exhibited a maximum stress of 1.3 kPa at 4.4 kV, a relative displacement of -80% at 4.4 kV, a -3dB bandwidth of 3 Hz, and a resonance frequency of 160 Hz. The second part of the paper presents possible applications of the tested actuator configuration for haptic interfaces. Two specific examples are considered. The first deals with a wearable tactile/haptic display used to provide users with tactile feedback during electronic navigation in virtual environments. The display consists of HC-DEAs arranged in contact with finger tips. As a second example of usage, an up-scaled prototype version of an 8-dots refreshable cell for dynamic Braille displays is shown. Each Braille pin consists of a miniature HC-DEA, with a diameter lower than 2 mm. Both types of applications clearly show the potential of the new technology and the prospective opportunities for haptics.

An MRI-Compatible Needle Manipulator Concept Based on Elastically Averaged Dielectric Elastomer Actuators for Prostate Cancer Treatment: An Accuracy and MR-Compatibility Evaluation in Phantoms

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Sébastien Plante ◽  
Kenjiro Tadakuma ◽  
Lauren M. DeVita ◽  
Daniel F. Kacher ◽  
Joseph R. Roebuck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Parallel Manipulator ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Polymer Actuators ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer Actuators ◽  
Viable Approach ◽  
Cancer Biopsy ◽  
Prostate Cancer Treatments

A parallel manipulator concept using bistable polymer actuators has been developed to perform prostate cancer biopsy, and deliver therapy within the bore of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) used in this manipulator concept are promising for MRI-compatible robotics because they do not interfere with the high magnetic fields of MRI while having good mechanical performance and being low cost. In the past, these actuators have been plagued by robustness problems when used in a continuous manner. Recent studies show that reliability significantly improves when DEAs are used in a bistable manner, as proposed here. This paper investigates the potential of the proposed manipulator concept by evaluating the positioning accuracy and MRI compatibility of a laboratory prototype, developed for clinically relevant design criteria. An analytical model of the manipulator kinematics is presented. Analytical and experimental results validate that the proposed technology can provide an accurate needle placement required to perform prostate cancer treatments. The prototype’s MRI compatibility is validated in a 3 T clinical MRI scanner. The parallel manipulator concept using bistable polymer actuators is shown to be a viable approach to perform MRI-guided needle insertions for prostate cancer biopsy and therapy.

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