Search

The development of sustainable polymer materials is no longer just an option but a necessity. Elastomers are indispensable members of the polymer family due to their high tensile strength, durability, energy absorption capabilities, and excellent resistance to fatigue and environmental degradation. Elastomers have found a unique role in diverse industries, like transportation, automotive, aerospace, construction, and sports. However, elastomers are typically synthetic chemically crosslinked networks that are difficult to break down and recycle. Because of environmental impacts of synthetic elastomers, developing fully green or sustainable elastomers through green chemistry seems indispensable. This review aims to summarize and analyze existing reports on green elastomers, focusing on sustainable components, green chemistry, their performance, and sustainable manufacturing compared to conventionally used solutions. Due to the complexity of elastomer formulation—comprising numerous ingredients like base rubber or gum, curing agents, accelerators, activators, plasticizers, and other additives—creating fully sustainable elastomers, their blends, and composites with desirable properties remains a significant challenge. While no one has yet achieved this goal, a systematic and critical analysis of green chemistry principles in developing sustainable elastomers, with emphasis on green components, sustainable manufacturing and materials circularity considerations may be a feat of expediting decision-making processes toward a greener future ahead for the elastomer industry, and drive the development of fully green and sustainable elastomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The series elastic actuator (SEA) with fixed stiffness and pre-compression volume elastomer poses challenges in adapting to various working requirements. To tackle this issue, this research proposes a temperature-controlled shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator integrated with a variable stiffness SEA. This innovative design enables the SMA to pre-adjust its length based on external loads and changing the stiffness of the SEA elastomer, by compensating for the SMA actuator displacements to adapt to different external loads, and reduce the unfavorable effect of the elastomer on the SEA output. First, the SEA joint structure was designed, then the mathematical model of the SMA actuator and the SEA dynamics model were established. Finally, the effect of the SMA actuator output displacement on the response of the joint was investigated through MATLAB/Simulink and Adams simulation using the PID control method. The results show that the SEA elastic equivalent body stiffness can be adjusted from spring stiffness to rigidity, which in turn enhances the output performance of the system, reduces the influence of the elastic element on the system output, and improves the adaptability of the joint in different environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) have emerged as promising additives for improving the properties of elastomeric compounds. This study investigates the influence of GNPs on styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) formulations through a thorough assessment of rheological, mechanical, and thermal characteristics. Various mixing processes, including closed and open mixers, were employed to disperse GNPs effectively. Results demonstrate that the incorporation of GNPs accelerates vulcanization, increases crosslink density, enhances thermal conductivity, and improves mechanical strength in SBR compounds. Notably, open mixer processing yields superior dispersion and thermal conductivity compared to closed mixers. Additionally, GNPs mitigate the reduction in tensile strength observed during prolonged thermal aging. These findings highlight the multifunctional role of GNPs in elastomeric compounds and underscore the importance of dispersion techniques for optimizing their performance. Overall, this research contributes to advancing the understanding of GNPs as versatile additives for enhancing elastomeric materials, with potential applications across diverse industrial sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, 20 wt% ENGAGE (a polyolefin elastomer) is melt blended with 80 wt% linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) followed by composite preparation with pistachio shell powder (PSP) in various compositions (40 wt% to 70 wt%). The effect of variation of PSP content on mechanical properties is studied. The processability of composites is improved because of the unique processability of ENGAGE. Consequently, filler-containing capability of the LLDPE/ENGAGE (LE82) blend is also enhanced considerably due to extra space generated by amorphous ENGAGE. Again, blending of 20 wt% ENGAGE with 80 wt% LLDPE is helpful for maintaining mechanical properties of LLDPE/ENGAGE/PSP composite in useful range. The rheological study confirms that complex viscosity (η), storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G") remain almost unchanged with the incorporation of a high quantity of PSP into the LE82 blend system for all the composites in the entire frequency range. From the rheological study, it is seen that the thermoplastic nature of the composites is maintained. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show the structural integrity of LE82 blend-based composites revealing the thermal stability of the organic filler and consequently the composites. SEM also shows uniform dispersion of PSP into the LLDPE/ENGAGE blend matrix. Such biocomposite with 70 wt% biodegradable component and reliable mechanical properties is attractive for wide spread applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface tension at cavity walls can play havoc with the mechanical properties of perforated soft solids when the cavities are filled with a fluid. This study is an investigation of the macroscopic elastic properties of elastomers embedding spherical cavities filled with a pressurized liquid in the presence of surface tension, starting with the linearization of the fully nonlinear model and ending with the enhancement properties of the linearized model when many such liquid filled cavities are present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic skins endow robots with sensory functions but often lack the multifunctionality of natural skin, such as switchable adhesion. Current smart adhesives based on elastomers have limited adhesion tunability, which hinders their effective use for both carrying heavy loads and performing dexterous manipulations. Here, we report a versatile, one-size-fits-all robotic adhesive skin using shape memory polymers with tunable rubber-to-glass phase transitions. The adhesion strength of our adhesive skin can be changed from minimal (~1 kilopascal) for sensing and handling ultralightweight objects to ultrastrong (>1 megapascal) for picking up and lifting heavy objects. Our versatile adhesive skin is expected to greatly enhance the ability of intelligent robots to interact with their environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability to against hydrolysis while maintaining excellent elasticity is one of the most challenging problems in the development of biodegradable and environmental-friendly polyester elastomer. While monomers of longer chain can provide higher stability, the high crystallinity and rigidity impair their application in fabricating elastomer. This work reported a star-crosslinked poly(butanediol-hexanediol-isosorbitol-itaconate-sebacate) elastomer synthesized by esterification and thermal curing. With the crystallization inhibition effect of isosorbide as a large and rigid monomer, and the flexibility of 1,6-hexanediol, the rigid (butanediol-itaconate-sebacate) copolyester system is successfully transformed from plastic to be elastomer with lower Tm and Tg, much higher elongation at break, and smaller tensile modulus, and the biodegradability is also improved. The strategy is demonstrated to be efficient and may serve as a potential technique in the future development of biodegradable elastomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the adhesive contact between a hard steel and a soft elastomer cylinder was experimentally studied. In the experiment, the hard cylinder was indented into the soft one, after which the two cylinders were separated. The contact area between the cylinders was elliptical in shape, and the eccentricity of this increased as the angle between the axes of the contacting cylinders decreased. Additionally, the adhesive pull-off force and the contact area increased with a decrease in the angle between the cylinders. The use of a transparent elastomer allowed for observation of the shape of the contact in real time, which facilitated the creation of videos demonstrating the complete process of contact failure and the evolution of the ellipse shape, depending on the distance between the cylinders and normal force. These findings contribute to a better understanding of adhesive interactions in elliptical contacts between cylinders and can be applied to fields such as soft robotics, material design, and bioengineering, where precise control over adhesion and contact mechanics is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing lithium metal as an anode in batteries has been expected to replace conventional lithium-ion batteries. However, the mechanical properties and electrochemical performance of current separators do not meet the requirements for practical applications of lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Here, we report an elastomer separator with an interconnected structure of plastic-crystal-embedded and garnet-conductor-regulated thermoplastic polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-r-butylene)-b-polystyrene elastomer integrated with the polyethylene matrix. The 14-micron-thick elastomer separators show a combination of excellent elongation of ∼115.2% and sufficiently high tensile strength of ∼56 MPa. The elastomer separators accommodate volume changes and block dendrites for high-current-density cycling of LMBs. As a demonstration, the elastomer separators enable stable operation of LMBs under stringent conditions, a practical high loading of 18 mg cm−2 LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathode at an extremely high charging/discharging current density of 1.8 mA cm−2, delivering a high reversible capacity of 164 mAh g−1 and capacity retention of 88% after 140 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber‐metal laminates (FMLs) are generally regarded as excellent lightweight materials for advanced structure design. To enhance the mechanical properties, the common FMLs can be optimized using carbon fibers. However, the combination of carbon fibers with aluminum induces interfacial challenges. Preventing galvanic corrosion with elastomeric interlayers is an effective solution. The lay‐up configuration greatly effects the impact damage resistance of hybrid CFRP‐elastomer‐metal laminates (HyCEMLs). In this work, micro‐CT scans and optical micrographic inspections on HyCEMLs are conducted after impact tests to ascertain the microstructural origins behind the mechanical performance changes. In addition, finite element models of different HyCEML configurations are built to complement the limited experimental data. The damage mechanisms of HyCEML with different configurations under various impact conditions are further compared. The numerical results suggest that impact energy is a more informative measure in terms of damage mode and size than impact velocity and momentum. Results also indicate that when the thickness for each sub‐laminate of HyCEML is maintained the same, hybrid laminates with aluminum stacked outside is beneficial for delaying the occurrence of matrix cracking and delaminations, and enhances HyCEML's resistance to global deformation. These findings will contribute to engineering hybrid laminates with desired impact performance for lightweight load‐bearing structures. Highlights: The hybrid laminate with elastomeric interlayers is a forward‐looking solution in impact applications.Impact energy is a more informative measure in terms of assessing the damage mode and extent in HyCEMLs.The influence of stacking sequence on damage mechanisms of HyCEMLs is evaluated.Microstructural origins behind variations of hybrid laminates in the impact resistance are revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Septoplasty is among the most frequently performed procedures in the field of otorhinolaryngology. Adhesion is known to be the most common complication occurring after septoplasty. Post-surgical insertion of silicone splints is a widely used measure for the prevention of postoperative complications. Recently, we encountered a case where the silicone splint was dislocated and further displaced to the level of the upper esophageal sphincter. Although it was safely removed using fiberoptic gastroendoscopy, delayed removal could have induced other serious sequelae. Since no similar cases have been previously reported, we believe that this may be a very rare complication induced by a loose absorbable suture. Therefore, we suggest that otorhinolaryngologists should pay attention to the fixation of a silicone splint with sutures under appropriate tension to prevent the dislocation of the silicone splint and its subsequent sequelae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A finite element model of the local mechanical response of a filled polymer composite to uniaxial compression is presented. The interfacial layer between filler particles and polymer matrix is explicitly modeled as a third phase of the composite. Unit cells containing one or several anisometric filler particles surrounded by interface shells are considered. The dependence of the mechanical response of the cells to external deformation on the interface thickness and stiffness is studied. The use of the particle–matrix interface as a damping tool in mesoscopic polymer-composite problems with large deformations is discussed. The influence of the interface on the anisotropy of the composite response is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polylactic acid (PLA), a favored bioplastic, is often limited in the packaging industry due to its inherent hardness and brittleness. To achieve a flexible PLA composite film through the extrusion-blowing method, we introduced a glycidyl methacrylate-grafted polyolefin elastomer (gPOE) and a reactive compatibilizer, ethylene methyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate random terpolymer (AX8900), into PLA to fabricate ternary blend films. In this film, both the gPOE and AX8900 offered multiple reactive sites to interact with the COOH and OH groups of PLA, thus leading to a stronger interfacial adhesion. The SEM micrographs also revealed its rough fracture surface with rich fibers, indicating its excellent compatibility performance. Compared to the neat PLA film and the binary blend films, those were PLA blended with picked single elastomers, the ternary blend films exhibited significantly enhanced elongation at break and demonstrates exceptional performance in terms of barrier properties and opacity. This work presents a facile approach for the fabrication of flexible PLA films, which holds great potential for application in the food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) offer versatile applications including haptics, soft robotics and smart lenses. However, due to the lack of conductive electrodes with low modulus and high stretchability, their use is limited by nonsolid electrodes, hindering integration with other systems. In this study, transparent and patternable solid electrodes, achieving actuation performance comparable to a commonly used non‐solid counterpart (e.g., carbon grease), with a stretchable and patternable conducting polymer composed of PEDOT:PSS and PEG‐PPG‐PEG diacrylate (P123DA) are reported. Varying the ratio of P123DA to PEDOT:PSS enables optimization of electrical and mechanical properties to achieve compliant solid electrodes in static and dynamic actuation. The ratio of P123DA to PEDOT:PSS is found to impact PEDOT:PSS nanofiber formation and the associated electrical and mechanical properties. Moreover, the resulting P123DA/PEDOT:PSS‐based solid electrode shows excellent optical transmittance exceeding 95%. This work highlights the potential of tuning different solid electrode properties to realize transparent, patternable, and stretchable solid electrodes, enhancing their applicability in diverse fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transferring knowledge learned from standard GelSight sensors to other visuotactile sensors is appealing for reducing data collection and annotation. However, such cross-sensor transfer is challenging due to the differences between sensors in internal light sources, imaging effects, and elastomer properties. By understanding the data collected from each type of visuotactile sensors as domains, we propose a few-sample-driven style-to-content unsupervised domain adaptation method to reduce cross-sensor domain gaps. We first propose a Global and Local Aggregation Bottleneck (GLAB) layer to compress features extracted by an encoder, enabling the extraction of features containing key information and facilitating unlabeled few-sample-driven learning. We introduce a Fourier-style transformation (FST) module and a prototype-constrained learning loss to promote global conditional domain-adversarial adaptation, bridging style-level gaps. We also propose a high-confidence guided teacher–student network, utilizing a self-distillation mechanism to further reduce content-level gaps between the two domains. Experiments on three cross-sensor domain adaptation and real-world robotic cross-sensor shape recognition tasks demonstrate that our method outperforms state-of-the-art approaches, particularly achieving 89.8% accuracy on the DIGIT recognition dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The azido propellant, with high energy and low signature, has been a hotpot in the field of propellants. However, the risk of low heat resistance and mechanical performance restricts their range of applications in high-energy formulations. In this study, four azido propellants based on 3,3-bis (azidomethyl) oxetane-tetrahydrofuran copolyether (BAMO-THF) have been prepared, their basic physical properties including energetic properties, internal micro-structure and true density were studied; their tensile properties, dynamic mechanical performances, were investigated, the structure-properties relationship was proposed. The results demonstrate that the obtained propellant shows an elastomeric composite material behavior, with an obvious relaxation in the initial stage and susceptibility to loading condition. The formula structure not only causes obvious difference in the second stage of relaxation, but also strongly affects the initial stage, which is quite different from the influence of testing condition. Besides, the low temperature toughness of the azido propellant is improved by using diol partly replaces diamine as a chain extender, but their stress modulus drop down obviously, leading to the notable stress relaxation behavior at high temperatures. It was found that the improvement of the ordering degree of microstructure or network integrity could restrict the stress relaxation, which was an effective approach to improve the heat resistance and mechanical performance of azido propellant at high temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many modern anti-icing and anti-fouling coatings rely on soft, low surface energy elastomeric materials such as polydimethylsiloxane for their functionality. While the low surface energy is desirable for reducing adhesion, very little work considers the larger contribution to adhesive failure caused by the viscoelastic nature of elastomers. Here we examine several different siloxane elastomers using a JKR adhesion test, which was operated over a range of different speeds and temperatures. Additionally, we characterize the dynamic mechanical modulus over a large range of frequencies for each material. We note that surface energies of the materials are all similar, but variation in adhesion strength is clear in the data. The variation at low speeds is related to elastomer architecture but the speed dependence itself is independent of architecture. Qualitative correlations are noted between the JKR adhesion measurements and the dynamic moduli. Finally, an attempt is made to directly compare moduli and adhesion through the recent Persson–Brener model. Approximations of the model are shown to be inaccurate. The full model is found to be accurate at low speeds, although it fails to precisely capture higher speed behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutting of soft materials is a complex problem, which is still not well understood at the fundamental level, especially for soft materials. The cutting process we consider is slicing, which starts with indentation, followed by sliding of a knife on the material to be cut. Here, we describe cutting experiments on PDMS elastomers with three different moduli. Our experiments reveal typical stages of this cutting process, starting with indentation and ending at steady state cutting. The process starts with a pre-cutting phase in which the blade does not slip grossly relative to the solid to be cut, and deformation is mostly elastic. Slip of the blade initiates suddenly and is often accompanied by initiation of cutting. Cutting is relatively smooth in the next stage, which requires a continuous increase in shear force. For soft PDMS, this smooth cutting stage is followed by one in which folds or creases form on the cutting surface. The corresponding shear force response is no longer smooth as "steady" sliding occurs in a stick–slip fashion with oscillatory forces. The average shear force reaches a plateau and no longer increases with shear displacement. Experimental observations of the various cutting stages are interpreted quantitatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nonlinear creep model based on fractional calculus theory is proposed to better describe the creep characteristics of transversely isotropic rock. The model includes a Hooke elastomer, a fractional Abel dashpot, a Kelvin body, and a nonlinear viscoplastic body, which effectively capture the three stages of creep (including the primary, steady-state, and accelerating creep stages) while also reflect the influence of different bedding angles on creep behavior. The parameters of the model are identified by the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm. Compared to previous models assuming constant Poisson's ratio for transversely isotropic rock, our nonlinear creep model demonstrates improved accuracy and rationality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stretchable displays, capable of reversible expansion, represent significant advancements in free‐form display technologies. However, the high Poisson's ratio (ν) of elastomer substrates leads to unintended deformation under tensile strain, resulting in image warping. To address this, a meta‐elastomer (ME) substrate with a bidirectional zero ν, incorporating a self‐deformable soft mechanical metamaterial (MM) frame, is introduced. The ν of the ME is precisely programmed by the interaction between the deformation of the MM frame, which exhibits a negative ν, and the elastomer matrix, which has a positive ν. The soft MM frame, stiffer than the elastomer matrix, undergoes both structural deformation and length alteration during substrate tensile strain. This synergistic effect enables achieving a nearly bidirectional zero ν, thus overcoming the limitations of conventional tessellated rigid MM composites. Furthermore, the ME substrate, which is chemically cross‐linked at the junction interface, demonstrates exceptional mechanical robustness, enduring over 180% stretching and more than 10 000 cycles. By counteracting the Poisson's effect, the ME substrate with an integrated pixel array ensures translational pixel movement along the tensile axis during bidirectional stretching, minimizing undesired pixel movement in other directions. The stretchable ME presents key advancements for implementing more stable and reliable stretchable display applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrinsically stretchable devices often suffer from non‐uniform strain distributions under direct‐stretching conditions due to their large‐scale, patterned designs, leading to inconsistent performance. To address these issues, mechanochromic materials—substances that change color in response to strain—for precise and intuitive strain monitoring are employed. Leveraging this data, strategic design modifications, including extrinsic techniques such as rigid‐island with soft‐substrate and kirigami cuts are implemented, to mitigate strain non‐uniformity. Thus, highly desired uniform and homogenous strain control in a multi‐pixel stretchable system is achieved. By integrating these strain‐stopping with uniform strain control methods into arrays of rigid and soft chiral liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs), effective color separation is demonstrated for encrypted information with enhanced strain uniformity and strain control. Additionally, the dynamic optical selectivity of circularly polarized light (CPL) of the CLCEs under specific conditions is explored, using uniaxial stretching to achieve both optical color changes and refined CPL separation. Consequently, leveraging the inherent optical properties of CLCEs, a uniform and highly functional multi‐pixel operating stretchable system is devised. The application of these extrinsic strain control strategies not only resolves issues of strain uniformity but also advances the field of stretchable smart materials, offering new possibilities for dynamic color‐ and polarization‐separating based on encrypted applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn view of the increasing demand on harvesting electrical energy from ultra-low-frequency rotational machinery for energy-autonomous structural health monitoring, the dielectric elastomer (DE)-based rotational energy harvesting (EH) technology has become a promising solution. Therefore, this paper proposed a DE-based ultra-low-frequency rotational energy harvester consisting of a fiber-constrained DE generator with a two-dwell cylindrical cam mechanism. Electromechanical coupling model of the harvester is developed to investigate its performance under varied parameters for performance improvement. Results show EH performance of the harvester is improved by extending rising time or returning time of the cam, which provides guidance for designing high-performance harvesters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights As a type of field‐responsive smart material, electrorheological elastomers (EREs) have an adjustable modulus that is significantly affected by the orientation of the pre‐structures formed by dispersed particles. However, the imperfect orientation of the particles in the matrix under an external electric field limits the electrorheological (ER) performance of EREs. To solve this problem, rod‐shaped Fe3O4@TiO2 magnetic/electric dual‐responsive particles were fabricated and used to prepare novel EREs that were cured under a magnetic field, and EREs cured under an electric field served as a control group. Compared with the control group, more robust and denser particle chain structures were observed in the EREs cured under a magnetic field, and the initial modulus and relative electrorheological effect (ER) were superior to those of the control group. This method can be used to prepare high‐performance EREs with strong zero‐field mechanical properties and a wide modulus adjustment range suitable for engineering applications. The magnetic/electric dual‐responsive rod‐shaped Fe3O4@TiO2 particles were prepared. EREs filled with Fe3O4@TiO2 particles were prepared under magnetic or electric field. More robust and denser particle chains were formed in the EREs cured under a magnetic field. The EREs solidified under a magnetic field have higher relative ER effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart dry adhesives, a rapidly growing class of intelligent materials and structures, are engineered to provide strong, robust adhesion when needed while also allowing for controlled, easy detachment in response to specific stimuli. Traditional smart adhesives, often exemplified by fibrillar structures made of elastomers, face a number of challenges. These include limitations on maximum adhesion strength imposed by microstructural dimensions, restricted adaptability to surfaces with varying degrees of roughness, and an inherent trade-off between adhesion strength and switchability. This review explores how shape memory polymers (SMPs) can address these challenges and, through their rubber-to-glass (R2G) transition capability, provide a powerful foundation for the next generation of smart dry adhesives. Specifically, we summarize and elucidate the mechanisms by which SMPs enhance adhesion strength and switchability through material characteristics such as tunable stiffness, shape-locking, and shape-memory effects. Additionally, we discuss a wide range of innovative designs and applications of SMP adhesives, offering insights into the ongoing challenges and emerging opportunities in this rapidly evolving field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical metamaterials have considerable application potential, but are often limited to single applications owing to material and manufacturing constraints. To achieve a “single structure, multiple applications” goal, this study presents a multifunctional metamaterial structure. The metamaterial cells gain significant deformation and recovery abilities by incorporating the concept of a tensegrity structure to balance flexibility and rigidity and using a rigid‐flexible fabrication process. Inspired by cat‐tongue barbs and Hooke's law, an innovative pre‐stress programming structure is designed for integrated fabrication, enabling multilevel pre‐stress control for each cell. This programmable stress allows the twin‐cell array to transition in situ from monostable to bistable states and provides multilevel critical‐force functions for bistable states. After assembling a nine‐cell array, the structure offers a wide range of adjustable stiffness levels, enabling soft‐rigid transitions and varied force‐displacement responses without the need for additional tools. It also allows controlled collapse ratios and deformation through stiffness control. Additionally, the nine‐cell array features isotropy with a Poisson ratio of v = −1 and clear indentation resistance. This approach is promising for applications such as adjustable energy dissipators, automotive equipment, and passive safety.Metamaterial cells produced via integrated fabrication gain an adjustable pre‐stress by incorporating the tensegrity concept. Using barb‐shaped locking structures to adjust the elastomer length (xn). Modulating the pre‐stress of adjacent cells achieves in situ multistability and critical‐force adjustability. The controllable stiffness of the nine‐cell array provides indentation resistance, a variable force‐displacement response, adjustable stiffness, and controllable deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a category of polymeric materials, soft dielectrics, such as most elastomers and rubber-like materials, have shown great potential for extensive applications in various fields. Owing to their intriguing electromechanical coupling behaviors, the morphological instabilities in soft dielectrics have been an active research field in recent years. In this work, the recent progress in experimental and theoretical research on their electromechanical morphological instabilities is reviewed, especially regarding the theoretical aspect. First, we revisit the theoretical framework for the electroelasticity of soft dielectrics. Then, the typical configurations of soft dielectric membranes used to generate two typical types of surface instabilities, namely wrinkles and creases, are introduced. Three commonly used modeling approaches (i.e., the stress balance method, the incremental method, and the energy method) for surface instabilities are reviewed with specific examples. Moreover, discussions on the difference between these methods and the corresponding critical loading conditions are presented. Furthermore, this review also covers the relation and transition between wrinkling and creasing phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there have been many studies focused on improving the performance of active materials; however, applying these materials to active machines still presents significant challenges. In this study, we introduce a light-powered self-translation system for an asymmetric friction slider using a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) string oscillator. The self-translation system was composed of a hollow slide, two LCE fibers, and a mass ball. Through the evolution of photothermal-induced contraction, we derived the governing equations for the system. Numerical simulations revealed two distinct motion modes: the static mode and the self-translation mode. As the mass ball moved, the LCE fibers alternated between illuminated and non-illuminated states, allowing them to effectively harvest light energy to compensate for the energy dissipation within the system. Unlike traditional self-oscillating systems that oscillate around a fixed position, the asymmetric friction enabled the slider to advance continuously through the oscillator's symmetric self-sustained oscillation. Furthermore, we explored the critical conditions necessary for initiating self-translation as well as key system parameters that influence the frequency and amplitude of the oscillator and average speed of the slider. This self-translation system, with its simple design and ease of control, holds promising potential for applications in various fields including soft robotics, energy harvesting, and active machinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work introduces an ultraviolet (UV)-curable elastomer through the co-polymerization of aliphatic polyurethane acrylate and hydroxypropyl acrylate via UV irradiation. The UV-curable elastomer presents superior mechanical properties (elongation at a break of 2992%) and high transparency (94.8% at 550 nm in the visible light region). A robust hydrogel–elastomer stretchable sensor is fabricated by coating an ionic hydrogel on the surface of an elastomer, which enables real-time monitoring of human motion. In addition, the UV-curable elastomer can be used for 3D printing, as demonstrated by complex lattice structures using a digital light processing 3D printer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft ionic elastomers have attracted considerable research interest in mimicking the multiple functions of human skin. However, these ionic elastomers struggle to simultaneously achieve controllable ion dynamics and other essential performance, such as self‐healing ability and appropriate mechanical robustness. Herein, bioinspired by Piezo proteins and integrins in human skin, thioctic acid (TA)‐derived ionic elastomers with skin‐like piezo‐ionic dynamics are fabricated via a multi‐confined interaction network. This bionic network is constructed by introducing a diene comonomer and lithium salt filler into polysulfides (poly (TA)), generating many dynamic interactions (various hydrogen bonds and lithium bonds). These dynamic interactions can bind ions to the polysulfides and be destroyed under external pressure stimulation, achieving controllable ion pumping behavior. This unique design concept enables these ionic elastomers to selectively respond to pressure (the optimal sample exhibits 152 times signal intensity with a sensitivity of 49.53‐1.13 kPa−1), along with leak prevention, recyclability, and degradability. Besides, these interactions also serve as sacrificial bonds and self‐healing sites to synergistically enhance all aspects of performance, yielding a high modulus of 2.47 MPa and outstanding self‐healing efficiency of 98%. It is believed that this work could create a new approach for utilizing sustainable materials in next‐generation “green” flexible sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elastomer‐based interfaces provide rich functionalities for tactile sensing, particularly in making tiny differences in contact dynamics potentially detectable. However, the minimal motion‐induced changes in the elastomer's surface and their disappearance during time‐lapse limit the state recognition within the current scheme of motion recognition. In this work, a new scheme of real‐time motion mode recognition for subtle deformations is proposed, which uses an optical tactile sensing system to visualize and distinguish tiny variations in surface profile evolution encoded as images. Illustrating with a sphere, sliding‐induced asymmetric elastomer surface deformation is visualized as a “drag” in optical images. The convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm is used to analyze the evolution of surface contour features during the interaction between the sphere and the elastic medium. Motion state recognition is achieved with 80% accuracy when a displacement of only 8.3% of the sphere diameter is produced. In addition, the system also offers the potential to analyze dynamic motion information through a single image, with an accuracy of 82.7% for velocity recognition. This dynamic real‐time recognition framework for soft media deformation paves the way for novel motion‐based input commands for tactile sensing and human‐computer interaction applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by biological mechanisms of impact protection, nanocellulose and linear polyurethane molecular chains are simultaneously tailored and expanded using supramolecular chemistry. This approach has led to the development of a novel impact protection strategy that leverages multilevel hydrogen bonding interactions. These abundant interactions effectively hinder the crystallization of polycaprolactone (PCL) chain segments, resulting in uniformly distributed microphase separation. This configuration achieves a significant fracture strength of 47.5 MPa, while maintaining an exceptional elongation at a break of 974.2%. The results demonstrate that supramolecular polyurethane‐cellulose nanofiber (SPU‐CNF) elastomer significantly reduces impact force and extends the impact buffer time. Crucially, the underlying mechanisms responsible for energy dissipation and impact protection in SPU‐CNF are elucidated. To validate these properties, impact protection tests at varying impact rates are conducted, underscoring the potential applications of the proposed SPU‐CNF in impact‐resistant materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical metamaterials achieve unprecedented mechanical properties through their periodically interconnected unit cell structure. However, their geometrical design and resulting mechanical properties are typically fixed during fabrication. Despite efforts to implement covalent adaptable networks (CANs) into metamaterials for permanent shape reconfigurability, emphasis is given to global rather than local shape reconfiguration. Furthermore, the change of effective material properties like Poisson's ratio remains to be explored. In this work, a non‐isocyanate polyurethane elastomeric CAN, which can be thermally reconfigured, is introduced into a metamaterial architecture. Structural reconfiguration allows for the local and global reprogramming of the Poisson's ratio with change of unit cell angle from 60° to 90° for the auxetic and 120° to 90° for the honeycomb metamaterial. The respective Poisson's ratio changes from −1.4 up to −0.4 for the auxetic and from +0.7 to +0.2 for the honeycomb metamaterial. Carbon nanotubes are deposited on the metamaterials to enable global and spatial electrothermal heating for on‐demand reshaping with a heterogeneous Poisson's ratio ranging from −2 to ≈0 for a single auxetic or +0.6 to ≈0 for a single honeycomb metamaterial. Finite element simulations reveal how permanent geometrical reconfiguration results from locally and globally relaxed heated patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) terpolymers have emerged as advantageous substitutes for polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Therefore, they are being considered as alternatives to PTFE in many application areas. The advantages of TFE terpolymers include their facile processability at elevated temperatures, their solubility in some polar organic solvents, their inertness against aqueous acids, aqueous bases and a large number of mostly nonpolar organic solvents, their low dielectric constant, their low refractive index as well as useful electro‐ and thermochemical properties. This review on TFE terpolymers focuses on their processing including shaping and surface modification as well as on selected properties including wettability, dielectric properties, mechanical response behavior, chemical stability, and degradability. Applications including their use as elastomeric sealing material, liner and cladding layer as well as their use as material for membranes, microfluidic devices, photonics, photovoltaics, energy storage, energy harvesting, sensors, and nanothermitic composites will be discussed. The review concludes with a discussion of the future potential of TFE terpolymers and scientific challenges to be addressed by future research on TFE terpolymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid film that exhibits reversible fluorescence (FL) is prepared by embedding a conjugated polymer, having an intramolecular stacking structure of the side phenyl rings, in a highly dispersed state into a silicone elastomer. The hybrid film experiences significant FL quenching during stretching and restores its original FL when the external stress is removed. In particular, the hybrid film manufactured using a shadow-masked, plasma-treated silicone elastomer provides a high-resolution FL image, which disappears when the film is stretched and reappears when the external stress is removed. The hybrid film can be applied as a strain-gauge sensor or a security film with embedded images that can be mechanically erased and regenerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents data on the use of shungite ore (the Bakyrchik deposit, Kazakhstan) and its concentrate as fillers in elastomer composites based on nitrile butadiene rubber. In addition to carbon, these shungite materials contain oxides of Si, Fe, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, and Al. The shungite concentrate was obtained through a flotation process involving five stages. The chemical composition analysis of these natural fillers revealed that during flotation, the carbon content increased 3.5 times (from 11.0 wt% to 39.0 wt%), while the silicon oxide content decreased threefold (from 49.4 wt% to 13.6 wt%). The contents of oxides of K, Ca, Ti, Mn, and Al decreased by less than 1%, and iron oxide content increased by 40% (from 6.7 wt% to 9.4 wt%). The study explored the impact of partial or full replacement of carbon black (CB) of P 324 grade with the shungite ore (ShO) and the shungite concentrate (ShC) on the vulcanization process and the physical–mechanical properties of the rubber. It was found that replacing CB with ShO and ShC reduces Mooney viscosity ML (1 + 4) 100 °C of the rubber compounds by up to 29% compared to the standard CB-filled sample. The use of the shungite fillers also increased scorch time (ts) by up to 36% and cure time (t90) by up to 35%. The carbon content in the shungite fillers had little influence on these parameters. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that replacing 5–10 wt% of CB with ShO or ShC improves the tensile strength of the rubber. The results of the flotation enrichment process enable the assessment of how these shungite fillers affect the properties of the composites for producing rubbers with specific characteristics. It was also found that substituting CB with ShO or ShC does not significantly affect the rubber's resistance to standard oil-based media. The findings indicate that Kazakhstan's shungite materials can be used as fillers in rubber to partially replace CB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermally conductive composites were prepared based on epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) filled with alumina, silica, and hybrid alumina and silica. The thermal conductivity and mechanical properties were assessed. It was observed that the interactions of polar functional groups in the fillers and epoxy group in ENR supported a fine dispersion of filler in the ENR matrix. The mechanical properties were improved with alumina, silica, and hybrid alumina/silica loadings. The ENR/Silica composite at 50 phr of silica provided the highest 60 shore A hardness, a maximum 100% modulus up to 0.37 MPa, and the highest tensile strength of 27.3 MPa, while ENR/Alumina with 50 phr alumina gave the best thermal conductivity. The hybrid alumina/silica filler at 25/25 phr significantly improved the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity in an ENR composite. That is, the thermal conductivity of the ENR/Hybrid filler was 2.23 W/mK, much higher than that of gum ENR (1.16 W/mK). The experimental results were further analyzed using ANOVA and it was found that the ENR/Hybrid filler showed significant increases in mechanical and thermal properties compared to gum ENR. Moreover, silica in the hybrid composites contributed to higher strength when compared to both gum ENR and ENR/Alumina composites. The hybrid filler system also favors process ability with energy savings. As a result, ENR filled with hybrid alumina/silica is an alternative thermally conductive elastomeric material to expensive silicone rubber, and it could have commercial applications in the fabrication of electronic devices, solar energy conversion, rechargeable batteries, and sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work examines the influence of linear low-density polyethylene on the basic technological, physical-mechanical and fatigue properties of elastomeric materials based on synthetic isoprene rubber of the SKI-3 brand. Synthetic polyisoprene rubber of SKI-3 brand manufactured by LLC “Togliattikauchuk” was used as synthetic polyisoprene rubber, and LLDPE 218 BJ manufactured by SABIC was used as linear low-density polyethylene. Rubber blends were made in a Haake PolyLab rubber mixer for 9 minutes with further introduction of sulfur on rollers for 1.5 minutes. It was found that the introduction of linear low-density polyethylene into the rubber mixture leads to a significant increase in green strength (up to the level of natural rubber and even higher). It has also been established that LLDPE increases the Mooney viscosity of the rubber compound, the stress at 100% and 300% elongation and increases the residual elongation after rupture of the vulcanizates, but has virtually no effect on the vulcanization process of the rubber compound and has an insignificant effect on the tensile strength. The fatigue characteristics of vulcanizates containing LLDPE up to 7 wt.% are at the level of the vulcanizate based on natural rubber. It has been shown that the combination of synthetic polyisoprene brand SKI-3 with linear low-density polyethylene LLDPE 218 BJ at a component ratio of 93/7 allows obtaining an elastomeric material approaching the elastomeric material based on natural rubber RRS1 in key indicators (first of all, in terms of green strength). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved X-ray apparatus that combines tensile testing and X-ray diffraction has been designed and constructed to conduct timeresolved experiments during uniaxial stretching. By utilizing mortise-like clamping jaws and dogbone-shaped specimens, this setup allows for the simultaneous recording of high-quality mechanical responses and 2D diffraction patterns due to the minimization of experimental errors from sample slippage or premature fracture. Furthermore, the local extension ratio can be accurately determined based on thickness variation, and the Hermans' orientation function was demonstrated to be a reliable method with high accuracy to calculate the segmental orientation parameter 〈P2〉 in elastomeric samples under high degree of stretching. In summary, this innovative tensile-WAXD instrument has proven to be a promising and powerful technique for investigating the "stress-deformation-segmental orientation" relationship in elastomers with high extensibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In particle-filled polymer composites with selective distributions of fillers in one phase, much attention has been focused on the "volume exclusion effect" in reducing the percolation threshold of filler, while the role of dispersed polymer phase acting as bridges of fillers in the particle network has largely been ignored. Herein, we studied industrially important ternary composites, polypropylene (PP)/ethylene-octene copolymer (a polyolefin elastomer, POE)/talc systems, and adopted rheology to reveal the bridging behavior of POE droplets in the network of talc particles. It is found that talc fillers concentrate in the PP phase using the "blend first" protocol, while more talc particles are located at the interface of PP and POE phases using the "filler first" protocol. Changing the POE viscosity and talc size can affect the migration of talc from the POE phase to the PP phase in the "filler first" protocol. The linear rheology behavior indicates that besides the "volume exclusion effect", the talc-POE hybrid network can further contribute to the reinforcement effect. Meanwhile, the POE droplet bridging structure can facilitate the rebuilding of the hybrid network after large amplitude oscillatory shear, in contrast to the un-recoverable structures in the PP/talc binary composites. The correlation between rheology and selective distribution of fillers in ternary composites may provide practical guidance for processing and designing advanced polymer composites with controlled selective location of fillers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Masonry infills are frequently employed as both outer and inner partitions in reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures due to their outstanding characteristics in terms of energy efficiency, fire resistance and sound isolation. However, common construction practice typically involves the mortar connection between masonry infills and RC frames. For this reason, the unforeseen frame-infill interaction takes part under seismic loading, which leads to severe and uncontrollable damage to masonry infills. This interaction also causes damage or even the collapse of the RC frames and thus of the whole structures. The poor performance of infilled RC frame structures in recent earthquake events is a strong motivation for the development of innovative engineering solutions, which aim to mitigate the detrimental effects of frame-infill interaction. This article introduces an innovative decoupling system founded on the concept of decoupling the RC frame from the masonry infill. The decoupling is achieved by inserting elastomeric material between the masonry infill and RC frame. The properly designed decoupling system allows infill activation only at high in-plane drifts. Simultaneously, it provides boundary conditions for seismic loads acting perpendicular to the infill plane. Firstly, the article explains the design of the masonry infill with the decoupling system and its installation. Afterwards, the results of small specimen tests carried out to determine the load-bearing capacity of the decoupling system are presented. Furthermore, the article discusses the findings of an extensive experimental campaign conducted on nine real-size RC frames with decoupled infills subjected to separate and combined in-plane and out-of-plane loadings. In addition to different loading types, various infill configurations are considered – solid infill, infill with centric window, and infill with centric door opening. Finally, the experimental results of RC frames with decoupled infills are compared with the experimental results of traditionally infilled RC frames, which were tested within the framework of the same project. The thorough evaluation and comparison of the experimental findings demonstrate the significant improvement of seismic performance of infilled RC frames if the decoupling system is applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absorbent expansion elastomer plays a crucial role in engineering sealing and holds a promising future in this field as infrastructure continues to develop. Traditional materials have their limitations, especially when used in large construction projects where the integrity and reliability of the material are of utmost importance. In this work, a self‐healing water‐absorbing expansion elastomer was developed for continuous production at a large scale to monitor the sealing conditions of massive infrastructure projects. At room temperature, the material exhibited a repairing efficiency of 57.77 % within 2 h, which increased to 84.02 % after 12 h. This extended reaction time allowed for effective repairs when defects were detected. The material's strength can attain 3 MPa, placing it at the upper echelon among common self‐healing materials, thereby granting it a certain level of durability in its application environment. The material's volume expansion rate reached 200–400 % to achieve effective sealing, and the functional filling of the filler endowed the material itself with a favorable external force induction effect and prevented heat accumulation. The conductive detection performance of the absorbent expansion elastomer was improved by utilizing triple self‐healing strategies, including dipole‐dipole interaction, ion cross‐linked network, and externally‐aided restoration materials. These strategies were combined with a double packing strategy to enhance the material's properties. This innovative elastomer can be applied in various fields such as tunnel construction, infrastructure development, aerospace sealing, and railway transportation, showcasing significant potential for diverse engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been growing interest in materials that combine the advantages of glass and polymer materials. Such a combination results in a kind of hybrid glass-polymer optics that meets the requirements for high-quality imaging in various environmental conditions. So far, the literature on these materials is quite scarce. This article is an attempt to review the most important reports on the topic of available polymers with optical properties, dividing them into groups, i.e. synthetic optical polymers (including polymethylmethacrylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, cyclic olefin copolymers and polyolefin elastomers) and biopolymers (including polylactide and gelatin). A separate place and chapter is given to transparent CR-39 plastic and the issue of individual dosimetry for radon detection. Moreover, testing methods for measuring the most important optical properties of polymers and their major applications are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The limited utilisation of epoxy asphalt primarily stems from its inherent brittle cracking behaviour. This investigation aims to mitigate this issue by introducing styrene–butadiene-styrene/crumb rubber modified asphalt (SBS/CRMA). Furthermore, this research assesses the influence of SBS/CRMA on the curing behaviour of epoxy asphalt (EA) and the low-temperature fracture characteristics of epoxy asphalt concrete (EAC). The curing behaviour of EA was systematically examined using diverse analytical techniques, including attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), rotational viscosity, and non-isothermal curing kinetics analysis. Notably, SBS/CRMA expedites the curing process of epoxy asphalt, possibly attributed to the amine constituents in the crumb rubber, which acts as catalyst. Subsequently, the study scrutinised the fracture characteristics of EAC through the application of the semicircle bending (SCB) test and acoustic emission (AE) methodology. The results substantiate that SBS/CRMEAC imparts a proficient toughening effect, underpinned by an augmented stress relaxation capacity due to the reinforcing influence of elastomers such as crumb rubber and SBS. The fracture process was delineated into three distinct stage and the AE signal in matrix epoxy asphalt (MEA) exhibited concentration during the macroscopic crack extension and final fracture stages. In stark contrast, SBS/CRMEAC exhibited a uniform distribution and showcased ductile fracture characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogels are soft materials widely used as a substrate or matrix for cell culture to mimic the physicochemical, structural, and mechanical properties of the cell's native microenvironment. Recently, a growing body of evidence has shown that substrate topography is a key determinant of cell behavior. These studies, however, mostly rely on the use of hard elastomeric materials, particularly as introducing topography in soft hydrogels is technically challenging, labor intensive, and often does not provide a flexible design space. Here, a new approach is presented that allows robust creation of topographies on hydrogels using a maskless and contactless UV‐sculpting approach. The sculpted topographies are highly programmable: the features can be designed using any digital drawing software, while the dimensions and resolution can be easily tuned via UV exposure dose or photoinitiator concentration. Microscale topographies (2–100 µm in size) can be created on a wide range of hydrogels with diverse chemical characters and mechanical properties (e.g., stiffness). As a proof of concept, this work shows that adherent cells on softer hydrogels align better to topographical cues than on stiffer hydrogels, underlining the importance of studying cell behavior in physiologically more relevant multi‐cue environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the invention of polymer networks such as cross-linked natural rubber in the 19th century, it has been a dogma that stiffer networks are less stretchable. We report a universal strategy for decoupling the stiffness and extensibility of single-network elastomers. Instead of using linear polymers as network strands, we use foldable bottlebrush polymers, which feature a collapsed backbone grafted with many linear side chains. Upon elongation, the collapsed backbone unfolds to release stored length, enabling remarkable extensibility. By contrast, the network elastic modulus is inversely proportional to network strand mass and is determined by the side chains. We validate this concept by creating single-network elastomers with nearly constant Young's modulus (30 kilopascals) while increasing tensile breaking strain by 40-fold, from 20 to 800%. We show that this strategy applies to networks of different polymer species and topologies. Our discovery opens an avenue for developing polymeric materials with extraordinary mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refreshable Braille display systems offer dynamic tactile approaches for the blind to obtain text information. However, existing refreshable Braille display systems using soft‐actuator‐driven Braille dots exhibit limitations of small strokes, complex mechanical structures, and high‐driving voltages, which inevitably lead to serious issues in safety, flexibility, and portability. To handle these issues, a novel refreshable Braille display system leveraging accordion‐fold liquid crystal elastomer actuators (AF‐LCEAs) is designed and created, which feature high stroke (1.47 mm), simple mechanical structure, and low driving voltage (20 V). The accordion‐fold structure with a high folding ratio of 59.7% not only enables significantly amplifying actuation strokes, but also brings a compact mechanical architecture for Braille dots. The structured‐LCE‐based refreshable Braille display system can be assembled modularly by multiple display units, which provides the capability to deliver rich and complex tactile information. In addition, a digital electro‐control matrix is designed to enable addressable, programmable electro‐actuation of the multiple LCE Braille dots to enable complicated refreshable tactile patterns. The Braille display system offers a versatile approach to engineering refreshable, portable, small‐sized Braille books useful for the blind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anisotropic volume changes in primary particles of layered Ni‐rich transition metal oxides generate mechanical stresses during electrochemical cycling. This results in structural degradation and side reactions that deteriorate battery performance. To address this issue, a cross‐linked epoxy natural rubber (CENR) is employed as the protective elastomeric interphase. The viscoelastic properties of CENR facilitated a strong adhesion to the surface of Ni‐rich cathodes, thereby helping alleviate mechanical stresses during cycling. This approach maintained the structural integrity of the Ni‐rich cathodes and suppressed detrimental interfacial reactions. Consequently, the fortified Ni‐rich cathode retained 95.9% of its capacity after 300 cycles at 0.5 C and 82.8% after 500 cycles at 1 C. This study highlights the essential role of elastomeric materials in stabilizing Ni‐rich cathodes and offers insights that can enable the development of additional protective elastomeric layers for battery electrode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectric elastomers (DEs) are widely studied and applied as an artificial muscle owing to their combined features of large actuation strain, fast response, high energy density, and low noise. However, scalable fabrication of dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) with low driving voltages (100 s of volts) and high mechanical outputs remains challenging, which significantly limits their wider applications. In this work, processable, high‐performance dielectric elastomer (PHDE) ultra‐thin film based multilayer DEAs (PUT‐MDEAs) through an optimized dry‐stacking process are fabricated. The obtained ten‐layer PUT‐MDEAs show actuation at 200 V and reach a maximum areal strain of ≈80% at 800 V. They deliver a blocked force of 0.1 N and an energy density of 22 J kg−1 at 200 V and achieve a blocked force of 0.7 N and an energy density of 50 J kg−1 at 700 V. In addition, large‐area PUT‐MDEAs are fabricated using the scalable dry‐stacking method, and adopted to build low‐driving‐voltage soft pumps and robotic fish, showing their potential for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key issue in utilizing solid polymer electrolytes for high‐energy‐density lithium metal batteries is to balance the conflicting demands of superior processability, adequate ionic conductivity, and mechanical stability. Inspired by molecular structure design, a metal‐organic framework‐derived polyether poly(urethane urea) solid polymer electrolyte (denoted as ePU@H SPE) has been synthesized via a facile polycondensation method involving covalent crosslinking. The reduced crystallinity and numerous polar groups in ePU@H SPEs enhance Li salt dissociation and create efficient Li+ ion diffusion channels, yielding remarkable ionic conductivity (1.48 × 10−4 S cm−1). The polymer backbones, incorporating covalent bonds and dynamic hydrogen bonds, provide superb mechanical strength (5.12 GPa), high toughness (1240%), and excellent resilience, which suppress lithium dendrite growth and buffer electrode volume fluctuations during cycling. Leveraging these attributes, the well‐designed ePU@H SPE enables ultra‐high durability in lithium plating/stripping over 2300 h. Moreover, the integrated LFP|ePU@H|Li batteries, generating delicate electrode/electrolyte interfacial contact, deliver an exceptionally long lifespan (86% retention over 500 cycles at 1 C). Moreover, the LFP|ePU@H|Li pouch cell operates reliably even under severe deformation and external damage. Impressively, the stable cycling performance of full batteries incorporating high‐voltage LCO and high‐capacity S cathodes further verifies the significant potential of advanced ePU@H SPEs for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, renewable bio‐based materials have received more and more attention due to environmental issues such as global warming and ecosystem destruction. In the present work, a series of isosorbide‐based bioelastomers poly(isosorbide carbonate‐co‐butanediol aliphatic esters)s (PICBAs) are synthesized by a facile and economical two‐step melt polycondensation. Due to the slightly self‐crosslinking reaction of isosorbide, PICBAs exhibit excellent tensile strength and self‐healing ability, the mechanical properties of PICBAs can recover over 95% after 48 h under room temperature. In addition, PICBAs can stick different substances, such as glass, rubber, plastic, and stones, and show better adhesive performance than 3M commercially available double‐sided tape. Consequently, isosorbide‐based bioelastomers PICBAs are of great potential to be used as environmentally friendly pressure‐sensitive adhesives (PSA) in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]