Electrically Induced Creeping and Bending Deformation of Plasticized Poly(vinyl chloride)

We have successfully actuated a non-ionic poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) gel by applying a dc electric field, and found a localized creeping deformation, which induced a novel type large bending of the gel rod just like a joint in a body. The gel was composed of PVC and dioctylphthalate (DOP), and was free of electrolytes. We proposed a tentative mechanism for the reversible and remarkable deformation. It could be an advantage over conventional electroactive gels for durability and performance in practical applications as a new class of soft functional materials.