An experimental investigation of electromechanical response in a dielectric acrylic elastomer

Electric-field-induced transverse-strain response was investigated in a dielectric acrylic elastomer at 1 Hz. The strain was observed to be proportional to square of the electric field strength within the measurement range (0 to 2 MV/m). Elastic compliance of the elastomer was measured as a function of frequency and was found to exhibit strong frequency dependence between 1 and 10 Hz. It was indicated that the field-induced-strain response in the acrylic elastomer originates primarily from the Maxwell stress effect. The experimental data obtained at low field and frequency were used to estimate the electromechanical behavior at higher field and frequency. PACS 77.65.-j; 77.84.Jd; 81.05.Lg