Abstract
Applications of silicone gel in flexible devices and soft machines require it to maintain excellent stretchability and antifatigue. However, the reported fatigue threshold of traditional silicone gels is in the range of 1–100 J m−2 and the stretchability below 2000 %. Herein, we report a simple strategy for constructing soft polydimethylsiloxane gels, which possesses high stretchability up to 8300 %, and high fatigue resistance (321 J m−2). This is achieved by controlling the ratio of chemical crosslinking and physical entanglement in the polydimethylsiloxane gels. The symbiotic relationship of this combination includes: extending the polymer chains helps them unfold to increase softness and intrinsic toughness; controlling the physical entanglement and chemical cross-linking helps to further increase the tensile rate and fatigue threshold, and adding small-molecule dimethyl PDMS as a solvent further increases fatigue resistance and tensile properties. This work provides a facile approach for developing super-stretchable and anti-fatigue silicone gel, which promises wide range of applicant in flexible devices and soft machines.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
