Super-stretchable silicone elastomer applied in low voltage actuators

Enabling desirable actuations at low voltages for silicone based dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) is challenging. Reducing the thickness and increasing the softness of the silicone film are key approaches for this purpose. In this work, a super-stretchable silicone elastomer was characterized and used as DEA.

The prepared elastomer can be stretched uniaxially to 2400% strain, allowing a significant thickness reduction through pre-stretches. Besides, it shows a moderate average elastic modulus of 0.32 MPa even at strains of 1000%-1500%. These properties favor its application in DEAs. Actuation results show that the elastomer was not only actuated to a high strain but also actuated at attractive voltages.

Specifically, a 1 mm-thick elastomer with a pre-strain of 200%×200% was actuated 45% in area at 4 kV, and a 0.25 mmthick elastomer film with pre-strain of 600%×600% showed a 3% actuation strain at only 120 V. Considering its easy fabrication and excellent actuation performance at low voltages, the elastomer is promising in the application in DEAs.