Dielectric Breakdown Strength of PDMS Elastomers after Mechanical Cycling

Emmanuel Taine, Thomas Andritsch (), Istebreq A. Saeedi and Peter H. F. Morshuis
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Emmanuel Taine: The Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
Thomas Andritsch: The Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
Istebreq A. Saeedi: The Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
Peter H. F. Morshuis: Solid Dielectric Solutions, 2311 SG Leiden, The Netherlands

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-15

Abstract: PDMS-based composites such as silicone elastomers are commonly found in high-voltage engineering, especially in outdoor insulation as coatings or structural elements or at interfaces between network elements, such as cable sealing ends (CSE). They are also promising prospects for dielectric elastomer generators (DEG), which are retrieving electrostatic energy from large strain amplitudes. The upper limit of energy conversion from these transducers is determined by the dielectric breakdown strength (DBS). Therefore, developing reliable systems that operate under high electric fields and variable repeated strains requires a thorough understanding of the mechanisms behind electrical breakdown and its coupling to mechanical cycling. In this study, the effect of Mullins damage and mechanical fatigue on silicone elastomers has been investigated. An electro-mechanical instability model that considers cyclic softening allows for predicting the evolution of the breakdown strength depending on the loading history. The results highlight the importance of the “first cycle,” where up to a 30% reduction in the mean DBS was measured. However, subsequent mechanical fatigue only marginally contributes to the degradation, which is a promising perspective for the long-term performance of any silicone elastomer as long as the precise impact of the first cycle is known.

Keywords: breakdown test; dielectric elastomer; electro-mechanical instability; low-cycle fatigue; Mullins effect; PDMS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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