Improving actuation strain and breakdown strength of natural rubber dielectric elastomers incorporated with AlN with silane grafting

In this study, dielectric elastomers offering intrinsically good integrated performances are achieved by introducing AlN particles grafted with γ-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane (KH570). The C=C of KH570 participated in the vulcanization of NR, which could increase the dispersions and interfacial interactions. By incorporating 10 phr AlN-KH570 fillers, the dielectric and mechanical properties of the composite are increased compared with the pristine DEA, and the breakdown strength remains above 93.9 kV/mm. Correspondingly, the actuation strain of 10 phr AlN-KH570/NR composite is 7 times higher than that of pristine DEA under the same driving voltage. Consequently, the AlN particles developed here are promising candidates as dielectric in actuators, and their excellent electromechanical properties could be applied in future industrial applications of DEs.