Glycerol as high-permittivity liquid filler in dielectric silicone elastomers

A recently reported novel class of elastomers was tested with respect to its dielectric properties. The new elastomer materialis based on a commercially available poly(dimethylsiloxane) composition, which has been modified by embedding glycerol droplets intoits matrix. The approach has two major advantages that make the material useful in a dielectric actuator. First, the glycerol dropletsefficiently enhance the dielectric constant, which can reach astonishingly high values in the composite. Second, the liquid filler also actsas a softener that effectively decreases the elastic modulus of the composite. In combination with very low cost and easy preparation, the two property enhancements lead to an extremely attractive dielectric elastomer material. Experimental permittivity data arecompared to various theoretical models that predict relative permittivity changes as a function of filler loading, and the applicability ofthe models is discussed. VC 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 44153.