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Soft Transducers with Dielectric Electroactive Polymer

Soft Transducers with Dielectric Electroactive Polymer

What are Soft Transducers?

Soft material-based devices, such as actuators and sensors, have been becoming the focus of attention in a variety of emerging applications. Dielectric elastomers and dielectric gels can play a key role as the main components in soft transducers thanks to their elasticity and softness. The shape change of dielectric elastomers and dielectric gels can be used to convert energy (e.g., from electrical to mechanical), leading to sustainability solutions, such as: 

Light weighting
Mechanical compliance
Design flexibility
Quietness

Potential applications of soft transducers include consumer electronics, transportation electronics, gaming, generators (energy harvesting), robotics, artificial muscles, infrastructure, mattresses, speakers, and electric toothbrushes.

Material comparison and Dow’s focus

Different materials have unique actuation and stress properties. Dielectric Electroactive Polymer (DEAP) offers differentiated, larger actuation strain.

Actuator	Power Density KW * kg-1	Actuation Efficiency	Size / em3	Stress / MPs	Strain / %	Relative Speed	Design Flexibility
DEAP	10^-2-10⁰	~0.9	≥10^-1	10^-1-10⁰	10^-1-10²	Fast	Good
Hydraulic	10⁰-10¹	>0.9	10⁰-10⁴	10⁰-10²	10^-3-10⁰	Medium	Poor
Pneumatic	10^-2-10²	~0.4	10⁰-10⁴	10⁰-10¹	10^-1-10⁰	Medium	Poor
Moving Coil	10^-2-10⁰	~0.8	10¹-10³	10^-2	100	Medium-Fast	Poor
Plezo	10⁰-10⁶	>0.85	10^-2-10²	10⁰-10¹	10^-2-10⁰	Fast	Fair
SMA	10^-2-10¹	<0.1	10⁰-10¹	10²	100	Slow	Fair
IPMC	10^-4-10^-2	<0.1	≥10^-1	10^-2-10^-1	100	Slow-Medium	Fair
Natural Muscle	10^-1-10⁰	<0.75	10^-7-10^-1	10^-2-10^-1	10¹	Medium	-

Principle of Soft Actuator

The simplest form of a DEAP-based soft actuator is a thin elastomer film sandwiched between two electrodes. Applying voltage on both sides of the elastomer film generates Maxwell pressure leading to an increase in area and a decrease in thickness.

WATCH DEMO

Principle of Soft Sensor

A DEAP-based soft sensor is considered a form of a force sensor. An elastomer film changes in capacitance when mechanically deformed. This capacitance change can be used to detect a different level of external force.

WATCH DEMO

Why Silicone-based Dielectric Electroactive Polymer (DEAP)?

At the early stage of research and development, polyacrylate and polyurethane were popular materials used as DEAP. Recently, silicone has attracted a great deal of attention and presents the most promising material due to the following advantages:

Lower operational voltage
Large motion
Low viscoelasticity and faster response
Durable, reliable and stable operation in harsh environments (high humidity, temperature, etc.)

	Silicone (high dielectric constant)	Silicone (conventional)	Polyurethane	Polyacrylate
Dielectric Constant	Excellent	Fair	Excellent	Good
Ease of Wetting	Fair	Fair	Excellent	Excellent
Moisture Stability	Excellent	Excellent	Poor	Poor
Service Temperature	Excellent	Excellent	Poor	Poor
No Viscoelasticity	Good	Excellent	Fair	Poor
Response Speed	Good	Excellent	Fair	Poor
Tear Strength	Fair	Fair	Excellent	Excellent

Dow’s technology and sustainability solutions

Our deep knowledge and long experience in the field of dielectric elastomers and dielectric gels can accelerate your technology and product development with an enhancement of product performance. Silicone materials have been recognized to offer superior properties that are suited for soft transducers. We can tailor silicone-based dielectric elastomer and dielectric gel products for your specific application needs. In addition, Dow’s silicone and organic materials science offers complementary strength in advancing materials science for soft transducers as follows:

Polymer structure design and synthesis
Formulation and composite development
Mechanical and electrical properties optimization
Total solution offering:
- Dielectric elastomers
- Dielectric gels
- Electrodes
- Adhesives
- Electrically conductive adhesives
- Process support including thin film fabrication
- Fundamental electromechanical performance evaluation

Dow Product	Application	Unique Feature
ME-7540	Electroactive elastomer	High dielectric constant
SYLGARD 184	Electroactive elastomer	Quick response speed
ME-1800	Electrically conductive adhesive	High electrical conductivity
OS-20	Diluent for DEAP or electrode printing	Ideal for silicone dilution

Providing best-in-class dielectric elastomer and dielectric gel products

Dow’s material science expertise and sustainability solutions add more advantages to make widespread commercial use of soft transducers possible. 

Structure of soft actuator

Where are Dow’s technology and products used?

DEAP actuator fabrication process

Soft transducers with silicone-based dielectric electroactive polymer (DEAP). Example of fabrication process and assembled structure of the actuator with silicone DEAP film.

WATCH DEMO

Lab movie (single layer actuator)

Soft transducers with silicone-based dielectric electroactive polymer (DEAP). Lab movie of the actual filming process.

WATCH DEMO

Dow paper on polymer testing

Learn how the quality of silicone thin films becomes important in DEAP applications.

READ ARTICLE

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Soft Transducers with Dielectric Electroactive Polymer

Soft Transducers with Dielectric Electroactive Polymer

What are Soft Transducers?

Material comparison and Dow’s focus

Principle of Soft Actuator

Principle of Soft Sensor

Why Silicone-based Dielectric Electroactive Polymer (DEAP)?

Dow’s technology and sustainability solutions

Providing best-in-class dielectric elastomer and dielectric gel products

Structure of soft actuator

DEAP actuator fabrication process

Lab movie (single layer actuator)

Dow paper on polymer testing

Speak to an expert

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