Modelling and Experimental Validation of Buckling Dielectric Elastomer Actuators

Buckling dielectric elastomer actuators are special type of electro-mechanical transducers that exploit electro-elastic instability phenomena to generate large out-of-plane axial-symmetric deformations of circular membranes made of non-conductive rubbery material. In this paper a simplified explicit analytical model and a monolithic finite element model are described for the coupled electro-mechanical analysis and simulation of buckling dielectric elastomer membranes which undergo large electrically induced displacements. Experimental data are also reported which validate the developed models.

High Strength - Low Hardness Thermoplastic Elastomers from Ethylene-Butene Copolymers and Low Density Polyethylene

A thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is a rubbery material with final properties and functional performance similar to those of a conventional vulcanized rubber at ambient temperature, yet it can be processed as a thermoplastic at elevated temperature. The main objective of the present investigation was to prepare novel olefinic thermoplastic elastomers based on blends of a thermoplastic i.e. low density polyethylene (PE) and new ethylene-butene copolymers (PEB), which would have higher strength and lower hardness compared to the existing TPEs. The 70:30 PEB: PE blend exhibited the best properties. Ethylene vinyl acetate was found to work as compatibilizer at lower loadings in these blends. The resultant blends were of low hardness (60–80 Shore A) and high strength (26–33 MPa). The interaction parameter and the morphology of the blends were the key parameters, which governed the final properties of blends.