Regensburg 2013 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 36: Poster: (Hydro)gels and Elastomers

CPP 36.6: Poster

Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 16:30–18:30, Poster C

Dielectric strength and electro-mechanical instability in soft insulating elastomers — •Stefan Best, Matthias Kollosche, and Reimund Gerhard — ACMP, Institut für Physik und Astronomie , Universität Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24/25, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany

The dielectric breakdown strength of polymer materials is of particular interest for many technological applications such as cable insulation, polymer capacitors and emerging systems that rely on soft polymers, such as energy harvesting or voltage tunable optics. We present experimental strategies to assess the impact of material properties and preparation methods on the dielectric breakdown strength of soft insulating polymers. This is studied on un-stretched Elastomers of various material stiffnesses, which can be varied through the preparation methods. Also, the breakdown strength was measured as a function of stretch ratio. The breakdown strength of un-stretched elastomers was found to increase with material stiffness, since breakdown occurs due to an electro-mechanical instability mechanism. Relatively higher breakdown strength was observed on pre-stretched, clamped elastomers. It is found, that very high pre-stretch prevents the electro-mechanical instability such that dielectric breakdown strength becomes independent of stretch ratio and thus the true material breakdown strength is observed. The results are found to compare well with theories in literature.