Actuation mechanism of plasticized PVC by electric field

作者：Xia Hong^*; Takasaki Midori; Hirai Toshihiro

来源：Sensors and Actuators A: Physical , 2010, 157(2): 307-312.

DOI：10.1016/j.sna.2009.11.028

• PVC gels
• Space charge distribution
• Attraction force
• Maxwell force
• Interfacial adhesive forces

The deformation of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) gels in an electric field was considered to result from the electric charging and the interaction between the electrodes. Basic experiments were carried out to investigate the deformation response of PVC gels. PVC and the plasticizer dibutyl adipate (DBA) showed strong polarization phenomena in an external electric field. This was confirmed by a constituent electric response test, in which PVC particles flocked together at the anode and adopted an arrangement of line-like tracks in the electric field due to the contribution of DBA as a solvent, while DBA moved from cathode to anode very quickly. The space charge distribution of PVC gel was clearly different from that of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) film and silicone film. The intrinsic polarization charges of PVC gel accumulated on the gel surface near the anode, and their intensity was much stronger than for PMMA and silicone. With this comparison the polarization of PVC gel was further confirmed. Furthermore, by using a force measurement method, the Maxwell force and the variation of interfacial adhesive force were evaluated. The force generated in the PVC gels was expected as the result of polarization response of charges, and it mainly took place between the gel and the anode due to the accumulated negative charges on the surface of the PVC gel near the anode. With this force, the PVC gel was deformed asymmetrically, resulting in creeping motion along the anode. Thus the deformation of PVC gels depended on the attractive force between the two electrodes due to the polarization of accumulated charge density in the electric field.

• 出版日期2010-2