Effects of silicone rubber on properties of dielectric acrylate elastomer actuator

This article describes the effects of silicone rubber (SR) networks on the actuating behavior of acrylate rubber (AR)‐based dielectric actuators. SR chains were diffused into a swollen AR networks in the presence of a co‐solvent, and then the silicone chains were chemically crosslinked in an attempt to form an interpenetrating polymer network. The presence of SR in the AR network was confirmed by various instrumental analyses including attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The total crosslink density based on a swelling method and tensile properties increased with modification time. The Maxwell stresses were also determined using a pure‐shear specimen. They increased in a parabolic fashion with the applied voltage, and depended on the type of compliant electrode and SR used. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 46:1455–1460, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers.