Electromechanical Properties of Ethylene Propylene Diene Elastomers: Effect of Ethylene Norbornene Content

Abstract

Ethylene propylene diene elastomers (EPDM) of various side chains and molecular weights were prepared as thin discs and the effects of electric field strength and temperature on the electromechanical properties were investigated. The electrical conductivity, the dielectric constant, the storage and loss moduli (G" and G'), the storage modulus response (ΔG’1000 V/mm), and the storage modulus sensitivity (ΔG’1000 V/mm/G’0) of the elastomers of different ethylene norbornene (ENB) contents and molecular weights were measured under electric field strengths varying from 0 V/mm to 1000 V/mm and at temperatures between 300 K and 380 K. The storage modulus response and sensitivity increase with increasing molecular weight and dielectric constant, consistent with the existing theory. However, for the case of EPDMs with different ENB contents, the storage modulus response and sensitivity vary inversely with the dielectric constant. EDPM is potentially a new type of electroactive materials.