scholarly journals Exploiting Stretchable Metallic Springs as Compliant Electrodes for Cylindrical Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEAs)

Micromachines ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien-Hao Liu ◽  
Po-Wen Lin ◽  
Jui-An Chen ◽  
Yi-Tsung Lee ◽  
Yuan-Ming Chang
Keyword(s):  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer Actuators ◽  
Compliant Electrodes

scholarly journals Dielectric elastomer actuators based on stretchable and self-healable hydrogel electrodes

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 182145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Gao ◽  
Xiaoliang Fang ◽  
Danhquang Tran ◽  
Kuan Ju ◽  
Bo Qian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Soft Robotics ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
High Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Relative Resistance ◽  
Resistance Change ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer Actuators ◽  
Compliant Electrodes ◽  
Pva Hydrogel

Dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) based on dielectric elastomer holds promising applications in soft robotics. Compliant electrodes with large stretchability and high electrical conductivity are the vital components for the DEAs. In this study, a type of DEA was developed using carbon nanotube/polyvinyl alcohol (CNT/PVA) hydrogel electrodes. The CNT/PVA hydrogel electrodes demonstrate a stretchability up to 200% with a small relative resistance change of approximately 1.2, and a self-healing capability. The areal strain of the DEA based on the CNT/PVA hydrogel electrodes is more than 40%, much higher than the ones based on pure PVA electrodes.

scholarly journals Characterization and Optimization of Elastomeric Electrodes for Dielectric Elastomer Artificial Muscles

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 5542
Author(s):  
Guangqiang Ma ◽  
Xiaojun Wu ◽  
Lijin Chen ◽  
Xin Tong ◽  
Weiwei Zhao
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Elastomeric Matrix ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer Actuators ◽  
Lower Elongation ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Long Term Performance ◽  
Term Performance ◽  
Conductive Particles ◽  
Compliant Electrodes

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) are an emerging type of soft actuation technology. As a fundamental unit of a DEA, the characteristics of compliant electrodes play a crucial role in the actuation performances of DEAs. Generally, the compliant electrodes can be categorized into uncured and cured types, of which the cured one commonly involves mixing conductive particles into an elastomeric matrix before curing, thus demonstrating a better long-term performance. Along with the increasing proportion of conductive particles, the electrical conductivity increases at the cost of a stiffer electrode and lower elongation at break ratio. For different DEA applications, it can be more desirable to minimize the electrode stiffness or to maximize its conductivity. In examination of the papers published in recent years, few works have characterized the effects of elastomeric electrodes on the outputs of DEAs, or of their optimizations under different application scenarios. In this work, we propose an experimental framework to characterize the performances of elastomeric electrodes with different formulas based on the two key parameters of stiffness and conductivity. An optimizing method is developed and verified by two different application cases (e.g., quasi-static and dynamic). The findings and the methods developed in this work can offer potential approaches for developing high-performance DEAs.

Conductive stretchable composites properly engineered to develop highly compliant electrodes for dielectric elastomer actuators

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 105005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Bele ◽  
Codrin Tugui ◽  
Mihai Asandulesa ◽  
Daniela Ionita ◽  
Lavinia Vasiliu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer Actuators ◽  
Compliant Electrodes

scholarly journals Effects of Thinner Compliant Electrodes on Self-Clearability of Dielectric Elastomer Actuators

Actuators ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 121
Author(s):  
Gih-Keong Lau ◽  
Li-Lynn Shiau ◽  
Soo-Lim Chua
Keyword(s):  
Breakdown Strength ◽  
Dielectric Strength ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Thickness Effect ◽  
Substrate Thickness ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Electrode Coating ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer Actuators ◽  
Thin Electrode ◽  
Compliant Electrodes

A metalized plastic capacitor stands a higher chance to clear faults when embodied with thinner electrodes. However, it is not clear whether the same thickness effect applies to carbon-based compliant electrodes in clearing the defects in dielectric elastomer actuators (DEA). This experimental study showed that charcoal-powder compliant electrodes act like fuses and current limiters to successfully clear the defects of an acrylic dielectric elastomer actuator, provided a very thin electrode coating. For example, DEAs with 3 μm thick (average) charcoal-powder electrodes fast cleared faults and sustained high breakdown strength (300 to 400 MV/m), but the ones with thicker charcoal-powder electrodes (30 μm thick on average) succumbed to persisting breakdowns in a weaker electric field (200 to 300 MV/m). Thermo-gravitational analysis and differential scanning calorimetry showed that dielectric elastomer (3M VHB F9473PC) started to ignite at 350 ∘C, and charcoal powders (Mungyo charcoal pastel MP-12CP) started burning above 450 ∘C. This confirmed that flash ignition and its damping of charcoal powder is possible only with a very thin electrode coating relative to acrylic elastomer substrate thickness. Too thick of a charcoal-powder coating could lead to the spread of burning beyond the initial flash point, and incomplete burning that punctures the dielectric layer but shorts across opposite electrodes. With this insight, one can design self-clearable electrodes to improve the dielectric strength of dielectric elastomer actuators.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document