Abstract
Stretchable electronics and soft robotics have shown unsurpassed features, inheriting remarkable functions from stretchable and soft materials. Electrically conductive and mechanically stretchable materials based on composites have been widely studied for stretchable electronics as electrical conductors using various combinations of materials. However, thermally tunable and stretchable materials, which have high potential in soft and stretchable thermal devices as interface or packaging materials, have not been sufficiently studied. Here, a mechanically stretchable and electrically insulating thermal elastomer composite is demonstrated, which can be easily processed for device fabrication. A liquid alloy is embedded as liquid droplet fillers in an elastomer matrix to achieve softness and stretchability. This new elastomer composite is expected useful to enhance thermal response or efficiency of soft and stretchable thermal devices or systems. The thermal elastomer composites demonstrate advantages such as thermal interface and packaging layers with thermal shrink films in transient and steady-state cases and a stretchable temperature sensor.
Highlights
As one of the potential areas for thermally controllable devices or systems can provide new functions for stretchable technology
Electrically insulating thermal interface materials (TIMs) or packaging materials in electronic components are preferred in order to avoid current leakage or electrical shorts
Being thermally curable and processable in similar ways as PDMS, this simplifies the implementation of a thermal elastomer composite (TEC) for a large area, conformal and thermally conductive layer or for a complex surface structure
Summary
As one of the potential areas for thermally controllable devices or systems can provide new functions for stretchable technology. The compliant coverage on any surface offers high thermal contact conductance[21,22,23,24,25] and high heat dissipation with increased efficiency for the devices or systems Apart from this thermal enhancement, polymer-based composite materials can provide lightweight and simple applicable processing. This TEC is compatible with and adaptable to current technology, such as soft actuators and stretchable sensors[40,41,42] It can provide new possibilities for wearable electronics and soft robotics as well as for conventional rigid body systems with complex surfaces, such as TIMs or soft thermal packaging materials
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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.
