Chemical Technology May 2016

CORROSION & COATINGS

The pilot coater, which can coat solventless and emulsion coatings for most substrates, coats products under real conditions.

between 10 and 400 µm thick, the thickness fluctuating less than 5 % over the entire width. The exceptionally uniform, homogeneous films are made of addition-curing silicone rubber compounds without the use of solvents. They are manufactured under cleanroom conditions to eliminate any impurities. Coating the upper and lower surfaces of the silicone films with a flexible, electrically conductive material produces deformable capacitors. When a DC voltage is applied, the electrodes are attracted to each other electrostatically and compress the soft film material. The layer of elastomer material becomes thinner, and spreads out in the plane. The capacitor becomes flatter and wider overall. When the capacitor is discharged, the elasticity of the film causes it to return to its original shape. The entire process is silent and can be repeated as often as desired. Subtle nuances of such capacitance changes can be measured and thus used for sensory purposes, for example to display body movements. In actuators, they can control small movements, for example. This enables the design of very precise and efficient pumps, electric relays, artificial muscles, gripping devices and sound systems. If several hundred capacitors consisting of silicone film are placed on top of each other – referred to as stacks by experts – it is, with the aid of motion, even possible to generate electric-

Coated with conductible electrode layers, the silicone film constitutes a deformable capacitor (dEAP), if energised.

ity. In a project publicly funded by the German government, Bosch and WACKER have already successfully developed a generator that can use the upward and downward motion of ocean waves to generate electricity. The Danish company, LEAP Technology, and WACKER have been developing electronic components that can be incorporated discreetly into textiles and have already developed the first prototypes. LEAP Technology makes these out of Elastosil ® Film.

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Chemical Technology • May 2016