Energy Diagrams and Stability Restrictions for Electroelastic Generators

The relation between electric and mechanical properties of dielectric elastomers allows using them as energy convertors under some conditions. The process is based on the relations between mechanical and electrical energy stored on the material. In this work, cycles of maximal mechanical energy to be converted into electrical energy are presented. The purpose of this article is to give a general formulation of electroelastic generator relations considering (1) Mooney-Rivlin materials, (2) floating sample between electrodes and sample with compliant electrodes, and (3) explicit thermodynamic stability criteria. Estimations on the maximal energy to be converted are made. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 2023-2028, 2010