TY - JOUR

T1 - Elastomeric Prepregs for Soft Robotics Applications

AU - Wienzek, Tristan

AU - Seibel, Arthur

N1 - Funding Information: The authors thank Doruk Utkan, Mert Yildiz, and Berkan Zorlubaş for their assistance in preparing the samples and fabricating the soft bending actuators. Furthermore, the authors thank Reinhold Grube for organizing the viscometer. Publisher Copyright: © 2019 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

PY - 2019/5

Y1 - 2019/5

N2 - Typically, soft robots that are driven with compressed air consist of two parts which are bonded together, a top and a strain-limiting bottom part. This communication describes the possibility to simplify the manufacturing process by using textile semi-finished products preimpregnated with liquid elastomer (prepregs) as the strain-limiting part, which can be stored at low temperatures with significant slower cross-linking reaction. For this, in long-term tests, three typical elastomers (Elastosil M 4601, Ecoflex 00–30, and Sylgard 184) are stored at −25 °C, and in a weekly cycle over 12 weeks, the viscosity is measured to determine the curing characteristics. It turns out that Elastosil M 4601 and Sylgard 184 are suitable for this application. For comparison, short-term viscosity measurements are conducted at room temperature in a 10 min cycle. The impregnability of several textiles (polyester/cotton blended fabric, nylon fabric, fleece, and flax fabric) is tested with the suitable elastomers. The applicability of prepregs for soft robotic applications is demonstrated by manufacturing soft bending actuators with various textile-elastomer combinations.

AB - Typically, soft robots that are driven with compressed air consist of two parts which are bonded together, a top and a strain-limiting bottom part. This communication describes the possibility to simplify the manufacturing process by using textile semi-finished products preimpregnated with liquid elastomer (prepregs) as the strain-limiting part, which can be stored at low temperatures with significant slower cross-linking reaction. For this, in long-term tests, three typical elastomers (Elastosil M 4601, Ecoflex 00–30, and Sylgard 184) are stored at −25 °C, and in a weekly cycle over 12 weeks, the viscosity is measured to determine the curing characteristics. It turns out that Elastosil M 4601 and Sylgard 184 are suitable for this application. For comparison, short-term viscosity measurements are conducted at room temperature in a 10 min cycle. The impregnability of several textiles (polyester/cotton blended fabric, nylon fabric, fleece, and flax fabric) is tested with the suitable elastomers. The applicability of prepregs for soft robotic applications is demonstrated by manufacturing soft bending actuators with various textile-elastomer combinations.

KW - elastomeric prepregs

KW - fluid-driven robots

KW - soft robotics

KW - viscosity measurements

KW - Engineering

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85062361864&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/adem.201801200

DO - 10.1002/adem.201801200

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85062361864

VL - 21

JO - Advanced Engineering Materials

JF - Advanced Engineering Materials

SN - 1438-1656

IS - 5

M1 - 1801200

ER -