Characteristics of the creep-induced bending deformation of a PVC gel actuator by an electric field

The influence of plasticizer (Dibutyl adipate) content on characteristics of creep-induced bending deformation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gel actuator was investigated in an electric field. The PVC gel bent to the anode side during the first electric field application. However, the gel quickly bent, and the bending deformation gradually increased to a stable state during the succeeding application of electric field. The measurement of space charge showed that a negative space charge gradually accumulated near the anode during the succeeding application of electric field. The dielectric constant of the gel also showed the above similarities. Such similarities suggest that PVC gel can memorize electrically induced deformation. On the other hand, the bending deformation, and the memory effect of the gel depended on the contents of plasticizer. Strong memory effect was obtained for lower content of plasticizer which indicated an influence of the density of the PVC chains and the alignment of PVC dipoles for orientation conformation in the gel network on the characteristics of creep-induced bending actuation and the memory effect of the PVC gel actuator in an electric field.