A self-healing dielectric elastomer actuator

Abstract

Dielectric elastomer actuators that can provide muscle-like actuation are unable to self-heal like real muscle tissue. This severely limits dielectric elastomer reliability and robustness. This paper describes a way to instill self-healing into the DE by using a two-phase dielectric consisting of an open-cell silicone sponge saturated with silicone oil. When the dielectric is breached, the oil is able to flow back into any void, re-establishing the dielectric structure. The sponge holds the oil in place and provides dimensional stability, while the oil ensures the integrity of the dielectric layer. The operation of this has been demonstrated in a prototype DE actuator that continued to function despite being perforated multiple times with a sharp object.