Innovative collaboration for dielectric elastomer actuators

Until now, the technology based on electroactive polymers (EAP) was primarily known only in the research environment. This collaboration provides an avenue to transfer the state-of-the-art technology into serial production in 2024. Working together and with key customers paves the way to integrate the technology into applications, such as energy-efficient, robust, and sustainable linear actuators. A development kit for 'Dielectric Elastomer Actuators' (DEA) was presented for the first time at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, USA, and is now available.

Covering the entire value chain

The three partner companies joined forces to cover the entire value chain, from raw materials to easily integrated DEA stacks with control modules. This ensures the individual components are ideally matched to each other and meet maximum performance and highest quality requirements for the actuators.

The base material, the electroactive polymers, is developed and produced at Momentive’s Leverkusen, Germany, location. Datwyler in Schattdorf, Switzerland, manufactures DEAs in unique stacks, which will be produced in increasing quantities by mid-2024 on an in-house developed production line with automated processes. BSC Computer in Allendorf, Germany, develops and manufactures an electronic control unit that optimally supplies these actuators with the necessary high voltage and an easy-to-integrate digital interface between the linear actuator and the application. In addition, BSC Computer supports end users with the mechatronic integration of the EAP actuators into the end customer application.

Continuous optimization of end applications possible

This comprehensive solution digitizes the basic technology of "electroactive polymers." Data obtained via the control unit and the networking of products via the Internet of Things (IoT) enables partner companies to draw conclusions about the performance of the technology. This facilitates continuous and sustainable optimization of end products – from the base material to the stacks and the end customer application.

The advantages of the new technology include: low energy consumption, reduced mechanical parts, reductions in component weight and volume, robust and resilient design, silent and controlled actuation operation.

This collaboration enables us as a specialty materials manufacturer to gain insights into the use of our elastomers in end customer applications and to continuously optimize our material. In the medium term, networking the EAP with the IoT can be the cornerstone for the digitalization of our business models.
Holger Albrecht
Vice President and Head of the Elastomers division at Momentive

We are thrilled to offer our expertise in industrializing elastomer-based sealing solutions for the upcoming collaboration. Our individualized solution enables the production of stacked actuators across different application areas, presenting a unique technical advancement.
Dr. Anette Wiesmath
Head of the EAP unit at Datwyler

With our experience in innovative low-power IoT solutions, we are closing the gap between basic EAP technology and real applications. Thanks to our control unit and system support, EAP actuators can be integrated quickly and easily for OEM customers and innovative product concepts can be realized, for example for lock manufacturers, industrial customers and in the automotive and medical markets.
Jörg Hofmann
Managing Partner of BSC Computer GmbH