Development of flexible rubber electrode for dielectric elastomer actuator

Abstract

Dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) is expected as an artificial muscle. In this study, fabrication methods of two types of rubber electrodes for DEA were proposed. Moreover, effect of rubber materials on rubber electrodes, effect of amount of solvent (heptane) in rubber materials on performance of DEA, and effect of conducting materials (Ketjen Black and multi wall carbon nanotube) on rubber electrodes were evaluated. The activated relative area strain increased with increase in the hardness of the rubber. The maximum area strain was 38.28% when 4kV was applied. On the other hand, the fabrication method using low solvent has a possibility to fabricate DEA efficiently. ©2010 IEEE.