Preparation and characterization of novel transparent plasticized poly(butylene terephthalate)-co -poly(alkylene glycol terephthalate) gel

Abstract

Transparent plasticized gels with good mechanical, optical, and dielectric properties have important applications in various fields. We prepared a new gel using a poly(butylene terephthalate)-co-poly(alkylene glycol terephthalate) (PBT-co-PAGT) copolymer and a plasticizer, dibutyl adipate (DBA). This method improved the polymer crystallinity, and suppressed particle formation in cast-films when the polymer was dissolved in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol, followed by solvent evaporation, and enabled uniform swelling of the polymer network by the plasticizer to form a transparent and flexible gel.The dielectric constants of the developed PBT-co-PAGT/DBA gels are much higher than those of PBT-co-PAGT films at low frequency. We believe that these PBT-co-PAGT/DBA gels could be used as photovoltaic, dielectric, and actuator materials.

Tunable‐focus negative poly(vinyl chloride) gel microlens driven by unilateral electrodes

“…The PVC/DOTP gels were fabricated by the solution casting method . PVC powder (Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical Co. Ltd, Xinjiang, China, M n = 84,764, CAS: 9002‐86‐2) was mixed with DOTP (Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China, purity: 99%, CAS: 6422‐86‐2) for 10 min.…”

Electrically Triggered Actuation of Plasticized Thermoplastic Polyurethane Gels

“…Plasticized gels are therefore ideal soft actuator materials for biomedical applications. In our previous studies, we prepared plasticized gels from various plastic polymers, including poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl alcohol), polyketones, and poly(butylene terephthalate) copolymers . Some plasticized gels have been developed for use as actuators in microfingers, for rolling and contractile operations, and for variable focal length lenses .…”