Electric actuation properties of SEBS/CB and SEBS/SWCNT nanocomposite films with different conductive fillers

Abstract

Electric actuation responses of poly(styrene-b-ethylbutylene-b-styrene) (SEBS)/carbon black (CB) and SEBS/single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) nanocomposite films were investigated. The electric field-induced thickness strains and elastic energy densities of both nanocomposites increased with the conductive filler content at the low filler concentration region and then reached the maximum. A further increase of the filler concentration caused a decrease in the actuation strain. The SEBS/SWCNT showed a larger s (z) value than SEBS/CB at the same filler content. Such actuation properties of the nanocomposites with conductive fillers are discussed from the perspective of dielectric constant, mechanical properties, filler shape, dispersion state, and dielectric stability.