ABSTRACT
Since two-decades, pre-strain in dielectric elastomers is a persisted proficient technique to improve the performance of soft actuators, sensors, and energy harvesters configuring them. But, information on the perception of pre-strain induced molecular-arrangement and crystallization in the dielectric elastomer is yet to be established. Studies of these structural modifications are important to consider because the change in electromechanical behaviors frequently attributed to chain entanglement for applied pre-strain. Here, the effects of the pre-strain behavior of VHB 4910 dielectric elastomer are deliberated towards electromechanical devices. The influence of pre-strain on electromechanical properties is conferred relating to the phenomenon of macromolecules, chain orientation. The chain entanglement is found to cause stiffening effect and lead strain-induced crystallization. So, the required strain percentage, activation energy, and time of crystallization are estimated based on experimental 148and analytical work involving the strain rate. These results evidence the kinetics of crystallization in the mentioned elastomer with empirical equivalence, is an inventive contribution towards complete understanding on the effect of pre-strain for actuator application.
