Silicone elastomers with superior softness and dielectric properties

Dielectric elastomers (DEs) change their shape and size under a high voltage or reversibly generate a high voltage when deformed. The obstacle of high driving voltages, however, limits the commercial viability of the technology at present. Driving voltage can be lowered by decreasing the Young’s modulus and increasing the dielectric permittivity of silicone elastomers. One such prominent method of modifying the properties is by adding suitable additives.[1] The major drawbacks for adding solid fillers are agglomeration and increasing stiffness which is often accompanied by the decrease of electrical breakdown and achievable strain.[2]In this work, three liquid additives - inert silicone oil, chloropropyl-functional silicone oil, and synthesized chloropropyl-functional copolymer - were blended into commercial silicone elastomers, and their properties were investigated.The functional groups were determined by NMR and morphology structures were investigated by optical microscopy. The resulting elastomers were evaluated with respect to their dielectric permittivity, viscoelasticity and tensile strengths, as well as electrical breakdown.