High Thermal Stability and Low Dielectric Constant of BCB Modified Silicone Resins

Dielectric Elastomer Actuators with Enhanced Durability by Introducing a Reservoir Layer

A Dielectric Elastomer Actuator (DEA) consists of electrodes with a dielectric layer between them. By controlling the design of the electrodes, voltage, and frequency, the operating range and speed of the DEA can be adjusted. These DEAs find applications in biomimetic robots, artificial muscles, and similar fields. When voltage is applied to the DEA, the dielectric layer undergoes compression and expansion due to electrostatic forces, which can lead to electrical breakdown. This phenomenon is closely related to the performance and lifespan of the DEA. To enhance stability and improve dielectric properties, a DEA Reservoir layer is introduced. Here, stability refers to the ability of the DEA to perform its functions even as the applied voltage increases. The Reservoir layer delays electrical breakdown and enhances stability due to its enhanced thickness. The proposed DEA in this paper is composed of a Reservoir layer and electrode layer. The Reservoir layer is placed between the electrode layers and is independently configured, not subjected to applied voltage like the electrode layers. The performance of the DEA was evaluated by varying the number of polymer layers in the Reservoir and electrode designs. Introducing the Reservoir layer improved the dielectric properties of the DEA and delayed electrical breakdown. Increasing the dielectric constant through the DEA Reservoir can enhance output characteristics in response to electrical signals. This approach can be utilized in various applications in wearable devices, artificial muscles, and other fields.

Dielectric Properties of Benzocyclobutene-Based Resin: A Molecular Dynamics Study

Benzocyclobutene (BCB)-based resins have garnered considerable attention because of their remarkable dielectric properties and thermal stability. However, in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, progress in BCB-based resin research has yet to keep pace with experimental advancements, resulting in a shortage of theoretical underpinnings at the molecular level. This study focuses on a novel homopolymer, poly(2-(4-benzocyclobutenyl)-divinylbenzene(DVB-S-BCB)), and devises an interactive methodology suitable for BCB-based resins. We implemented a Python script for the joint relaxation method to construct a three-dimensional model of the cured polymer using MadeA and LAMMPS. We conducted MD simulations to investigate how the cross-linking degree and resin molecular weight influence the dielectric properties of the cured polymer. Furthermore, we analyzed the thermodynamic properties through simulation. The results illustrate that augmenting the cross-linking degree and resin molecular weight results in a higher cross-linking density and reduced free volume, thereby increasing the dielectric constant of the resin. The cross-link density does not increase indefinitely with molecular weight, and after a certain threshold is reached, it cannot have a significant effect on the dielectric constant. The degree of cross-linking exerts a more pronounced impact on the dielectric constant than the molecular weight of the resin. In addition, the simulation results denote the excellent thermodynamic properties of the cured polymer. This study also examines the dielectric and thermodynamic properties of the resin samples that were experimentally prepared. The obtained data successfully confirm the reliability of the simulation results. This study offers novel insights for future simulation research on benzocyclobutene-based resins. Additionally, it provides theoretical support for exploring experimental work on low-dielectric materials in the electronic field.