PDMS sylgard 184, electromagnetic mixing, vacuum degasing, oven curing
Ultrasonic horn, Linear motor, Ultrasonic generator, and Labview
Micro load cell
Micro load cell by Steven Chen (April 11, 2012)
1.Connect Load Cell and DBU-120A
2.Connect DBU-120A and computer
3.Star Measurement
4.SETUP parameter of the program
(1.)Exciter 2V
(2.)Input 350 ohm
(3.)Range 10k/m
(4.)Filter Flat
(5.)Scaler
<1.> Unit N(mN)
<2.> Data Calibration Factor 1.801e-2 Offset 0
* Select Meas, Balance and Master
5.On computer Monitor see the measurement result
Rec record the measurement result
Set Recording save result
6.Click Exit to finishing
1 the mixing process was performed using a commercial flocculator. All samples were thoroughly mixed for a duration of 1 min at a speed of 195 rpm.
2 the mixed uncured PDMS was thoroughly degassed in a vacuum dessicator at low pressure for 30 min using a roughing pump
3. The degassed PDMS mixture was then poured into the PMMA molds, then degassed in a vacuum dessicator at low pressure for 5 min using a roughing pump
4. The degassed PDMS mixture was then left at 25 degree C (RT) for 48 hours.
PDMS+carbon black
ref: Zhu, Y.; Chen, X.; Chu, K.; Wang, X.; Hu, Z.; Su, H. Carbon Black/PDMS Based Flexible Capacitive Tactile Sensor for Multi-Directional Force Sensing. Sensors 2022, 22, 628. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22020628
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with micro carbon black particles inside was selected as the dielectric layer of the soft capacitive sensor. The preparation process of the dielectric layer was (Figure 5): first (i) carbon black with different mass fractions was dispersed in toluene solvent and ultrasonically dispersed for 2.5 h in an ultrasonic cleaning machine to obtain carbon black dispersion solution; then, (ii) PDMS prepolymer was added. The beaker was placed on an electric heating plate and heated at 60 °C until toluene volatilized completely. Whether toluene had been completely volatilized can be judged by the weighing method. The mass ratio of prepolymer to curing agent is 10:1. The curing agent is added in the proportion of 1:1 and is stirred with a glass rod and then put into a magnetic stirrer for 10 min to remove bubbles; then, (iii) it is poured into the mold and put into the blast drying oven. The temperature is set at 70 °C for 1 h of drying. Finally, the carbon black/PDMS composite is cut into the required shape and size as the medium layer.