@inproceedings{1e2e96137eec416fa4742b91e26d35a1,
title = "How to tune rubber elasticity",
abstract = "When using polymeric networks to EAP material, certain requirements need to be fulfilled or at least partly fulfilled. The networks need to be strong since the driving voltage goes as the thickness of the film to the second power, but on the other hand the networks need to be soft and flexible in order to provide sufficiently motion. Several network parameters can be altered in order to alter the network properties but it turns out that the most obvious parameter - the chain length of the network reactants - has moderately influence at molecular lengths above the entanglement length only. The inter-chains entanglements dominate the properties rather than the actual crosslinks. Since chain lengths below the entanglement length result in hard networks, the chain length alone does not constitute a tunable parameter. Therefore, it is obvious to focus on controlling the entanglements. One way to do this is to make the network in solution and afterwards remove the solvent. This way the entanglement contribution is lowered because network chains will be surrounded by solvent molecules and therefore the number of trapped entanglements between network chains will be lowered. The chain length can then be used as an easily tunable parameter.",
keywords = "7-I poly, Network optimization, Dielectic elastomer, Parameters, Entanglements, Solvent, Rubber, EAP, Elastic properties",
author = "A.L. Larsen and P. Sommer-Larsen and O. Hassager and Ole Hassager",
year = "2004",
doi = "10.1117/12.538057",
language = "English",
isbn = "0-8194-5302-1",
series = "SPIE Proceedings Series, 5385",
pages = "108--117",
editor = "Y. Bar-Cohen",
booktitle = "Electroactive olymer actuators and devices (EAPAD)",
publisher = "The International Society for Optical Engineering",
note = "Smart structures and materials 2004 ; Conference date: 14-03-2004 Through 18-03-2004",
}