Use of dielectric gel encapsulation is reported to make acrylic elastomer (VHB 4905) electrically stronger. Acrylic dielectric elastomer actuators (DEA) with silicone gel encapsulation can sustain an electrical breakdown field of up to 532MV/m, higher than 315MV/m of non-coated ones. Hence, its ultimate areal strain of 228% is larger than 189% of latter. This enhanced dielectric strength and actuation is attributed to the delayed electrothermal breakdown of VHB with silicone gel encapsulant that bars oxygen supply in air.

Date Published: 15 April 2016
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 9798, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2016, 97980D (15 April 2016); doi: 10.1117/12.2219564

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9798:
Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2016
Yoseph Bar-Cohen; Frédéric Vidal, Editor(s)