Abstract: A capacitance sensor (1) is provided with two electrode layers (10, 11) and an insulating layer (12) disposed between the electrode layers (10, 11). At least one of the two electrode layers (10, 11) is constituted by a reticulated soft electrode (50) that is formed from a conductive polymer and has a reticulated shape. The conductive polymer comprises a polymer and a conductive material dispersed in the polymer and has an elastic modulus of 1000 MPa or less. This method for manufacturing the capacitance sensor (1) in which the two electrode layers (10, 11) are constituted by the reticulated soft electrode (50) comprises: an electrode manufacturing step in which the reticulated soft electrode (50) is manufactured; and a laminating step in which the reticulated soft electrode (50) is laminated onto the front and back surfaces of the insulating layer (12).

Abstract: A sheet-shaped flexible electrode includes a thermoplastic elastomer including a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer or including a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer and an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer, and a conductive material containing carbon black, and has a thickness of 50 ?m or more and 500 ?m or less. The melt viscosity of the thermoplastic elastomer at 200° C. in a low shear region with a shear rate of 60 s?1 or more and 200 s?1 or less is 100 Pa·s or more and 800 Pa·s or less, and is four times or less the melt viscosity of the thermoplastic elastomer at the same temperature in a high shear region with a shear rate of 1000 s?1 or more and 1220 s?1 or less. An amount of DBP absorbed by the carbon black is 300 cm3/100 g or more.

Abstract: A capacitance sensor (1) is provided with two electrode layers (10, 11) and an insulating layer (12) disposed between the electrode layers (10, 11). At least one of the two electrode layers (10, 11) is constituted by a reticulated soft electrode (50) that is formed from a conductive polymer and has a reticulated shape. The conductive polymer comprises a polymer and a conductive material dispersed in the polymer and has an elastic modulus of 1000 MPa or less. This method for manufacturing the capacitance sensor (1) in which the two electrode layers (10, 11) are constituted by the reticulated soft electrode (50) comprises: an electrode manufacturing step in which the reticulated soft electrode (50) is manufactured; and a laminating step in which the reticulated soft electrode (50) is laminated onto the front and back surfaces of the insulating layer (12).

Abstract: A capacitive-coupling sensor includes: a detection electrode layer that generates capacitance between the detection electrode layer and an object to be detected; a shield electrode layer; and an insulating layer disposed between the detection electrode layer and the shield electrode layer. The insulating layer includes a thermoplastic elastomer, and the insulating layer has a thermal conductivity of 0.3 W/m·K or more and a volume resistivity of 1×1012 ?·cm or more. When the detection electrode layer and the shield electrode layer are made of conductive cloths, the conductive cloth for the detection electrode layer is placed on a front surface of the insulating layer and the conductive cloth for the shield electrode layer is placed on a back surface of the insulating layer forming a laminate. The laminate is pressed in a front-back direction under heating to fuse the insulating layer to the conductive cloths, producing the capacitive-coupling sensor.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electroconductive film includes a liquid composition preparation step for preparing a liquid composition including an electroconductive agent, an elastomer, and a solvent, the electroconductive agent having thinned graphite in which layers of graphite are thinned and which has a bulk density of 0.05 g/cm3 or lower; a delamination treatment step for performing interlayer delamination of the thinned graphite by pressurizing the liquid composition and passing same through a nozzle; and a hardening step for coating a substrate with the delamination-treated liquid composition and hardening a coated film. According to the method, thinning of the graphite processes sufficiently and the thinning process can be performed in shorter time than conventionally possible, and makes it also possible to manufacture an electroconductive film that has high electroconductivity and has electrical resistance unlikely to increase even after repeated extension.

Abstract: A capacitive-coupling sensor includes: a detection electrode layer that generates capacitance between the detection electrode layer and an object to be detected; a shield electrode layer; and an insulating layer disposed between the detection electrode layer and the shield electrode layer. The insulating layer includes a thermoplastic elastomer, and the insulating layer has a thermal conductivity of 0.3 W/m·K or more and a volume resistivity of 1×1012 ?·cm or more. When the detection electrode layer and the shield electrode layer are made of conductive cloths, the conductive cloth for the detection electrode layer is placed on a front surface of the insulating layer and the conductive cloth for the shield electrode layer is placed on a back surface of the insulating layer forming a laminate. The laminate is pressed in a front-back direction under heating to fuse the insulating layer to the conductive cloths, producing the capacitive-coupling sensor.

Abstract: A dielectric film includes an elastomer, and metallic oxide particles having a particle diameter of 100 nm or less that are chemically bonded to the elastomer and are dispersed in the elastomer in a state of primary particles. A method for manufacturing the dielectric film includes: a chelating process of adding a chelating agent to an organometallic compound to produce a chelate compound of the organometallic compound; a sol manufacturing process of adding an organic solvent and water to the chelate compound to obtain a sol of metallic oxide particles produced by the hydrolytic reaction of the organometallic compound; a mixed solution preparing process of mixing the sol of the metallic oxide particles and a polymer solution containing a rubber polymer having functional groups that optionally react with hydroxy groups; and a film forming process of applying the mixed solution onto a substrate, and curing the resultant coating film.

Abstract: A dielectric material for a transducer is manufactured from a composition that includes metal oxide particles having hydroxy groups, a rubber polymer having a functional group capable of reacting with an epoxy group, a bisphenol type epoxy resin, both ends of which have an epoxy group, and a cross-linking agent. In the dielectric material for a transducer, the metal oxide particles are bound to the rubber polymer via the bisphenol type epoxy resin. A transducer includes a dielectric layer made of the dielectric material for a transducer and a plurality of electrodes arranged with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A dielectric film which has high electrical resistance and excellent durability and a process for producing the dielectric film are provided. Also provided is a transducer which has large displacement and excellent durability. The dielectric film includes a three-dimensional crosslinked body that is synthesized from an organic metal compound, a rubber polymer that is other than a polydimethyl siloxane and has a functional group that is reactive with the organic metal compound, and an inorganic filler that has a functional group that is reactive with the organic metal compound. The transducer is configured by interposing the dielectric film between at least a pair of electrodes.

Abstract: A reactive ionic liquid to be used as an ionic component that is contained in an ion-containing layer in a transducer arranged in contact with a high-resistance layer as a dielectric layer of the transducer, and is restrained from migrating from the ion-containing layer to the high-resistance layer on application of a voltage is provided. The reactive ionic liquid comprises an ion pair that consists of an anion and a cation. (a) The cation (a1) is an imidazolium or quaternary ammonium cation, and (a2) comprises a reactive group that consists of an alkoxysilyl or phosphonate group. (b) The anion (b1) is a sulfonate, sulfonylimide, or nitrobenzoate anion.

Abstract: A dielectric film includes an elastomer and nanoparticles dispersed in the elastomer while chemically bound to the elastomer. The nanoparticles have cyano groups and are manufactured by a sol-gel process using an organometallic compound. A method for manufacturing a dielectric film includes: producing a chelate compound of an organometallic compound; producing a sol of metallic oxide particles having cyano groups by adding a silane coupling agent having a cyano group, an organic solvent, and water to the chelate compound; preparing a mixed solution by mixing the sol of the metallic oxide particles having cyano groups and a polymer solution containing a rubber polymer having a functional group capable of reacting with a hydroxy group; and forming a dielectric film by applying the mixed solution to a substrate and by curing a coating film.

Abstract: An ion-immobilized metal oxide particle includes a metal oxide particle and an anion that itself includes a) a reactive group that consists of an alkoxysilyl group and b) an anionic group consisting of a carboxylate (—COO?) group or a sulfonate (—SO3?) group, the anion being immobilized to the metal oxide particle via a silanol group derived from the reactive group. An elastomer includes the ion-immobilized metal oxide particle, and a transducer includes the elastomer.

Abstract: A dielectric film which has high electrical resistance and excellent durability and a process for producing the dielectric film are provided. Also provided is a transducer which has large displacement and excellent durability. The dielectric film includes a three-dimensional crosslinked body that is synthesized from an organic metal compound, a rubber polymer that is other than a polydimethyl siloxane and has a functional group that is reactive with the organic metal compound, and an inorganic filler that has a functional group that is reactive with the organic metal compound. The transducer is configured by interposing the dielectric film between at least a pair of electrodes.

Abstract: A dielectric material for a transducer is manufactured from a composition that includes metal oxide particles having hydroxy groups, a rubber polymer having a functional group capable of reacting with an epoxy group, a bisphenol type epoxy resin, both ends of which have an epoxy group, and a cross-linking agent. In the dielectric material for a transducer, the metal oxide particles are bound to the rubber polymer via the bisphenol type epoxy resin. A transducer includes a dielectric layer made of the dielectric material for a transducer and a plurality of electrodes arranged with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A dielectric film includes an elastomer, and metallic oxide particles having a particle diameter of 100 nm or less that are chemically bonded to the elastomer and are dispersed in the elastomer in a state of primary particles. A method for manufacturing the dielectric film includes: a chelating process of adding a chelating agent to an organometallic compound to produce a chelate compound of the organometallic compound; a sol manufacturing process of adding an organic solvent and water to the chelate compound to obtain a sol of metallic oxide particles produced by the hydrolytic reaction of the organometallic compound; a mixed solution preparing process of mixing the sol of the metallic oxide particles and a polymer solution containing a rubber polymer having functional groups that optionally react with hydroxy groups; and a film forming process of applying the mixed solution onto a substrate, and curing the resultant coating film.

Abstract: A transducer includes a high-resistance layer that includes an elastomer and has a volume resistivity of 1012 ?·cm or more, a pair of electrodes that are arranged on both a front side and a back side of the high-resistance layer and include a binder and a conductive material, and a medium-resistance layer that is interposed between the electrode and the high-resistance layer on at least one of the front side and the back side of the high-resistance layer, includes an elastomer, and has a volume resistivity that is smaller than the volume resistivity of the high-resistance layer by two or more digits. In the transducer, the medium-resistance layer is interposed between at least one electrode and the high-resistance layer to take advantage of the resistance to dielectric breakdown originally possessed by the high-resistance layer, thereby obtaining a larger force by applying a higher voltage.

Abstract: A dielectric film includes an elastomer and nanoparticles dispersed in the elastomer while chemically bound to the elastomer. The nanoparticles have cyano groups and are manufactured by a sol-gel process using an organometallic compound. A method for manufacturing a dielectric film includes: producing a chelate compound of an organometallic compound; producing a sol of metallic oxide particles having cyano groups by adding a silane coupling agent having a cyano group, an organic solvent, and water to the chelate compound; preparing a mixed solution by mixing the sol of the metallic oxide particles having cyano groups and a polymer solution containing a rubber polymer having a functional group capable of reacting with a hydroxy group; and forming a dielectric film by applying the mixed solution to a substrate and by curing a coating film.

Abstract: An ion-immobilized metal oxide particle includes a metal oxide particle and an anion that itself includes a) a reactive group that consists of an alkoxysilyl group and b) an anionic group consisting of a carboxylate (—COO?) group or a sulfonate (—SO3?) group, the anion being immobilized to the metal oxide particle via a silanol group derived from the reactive group. An elastomer includes the ion-immobilized metal oxide particle, and a transducer includes the elastomer.

Abstract: A reactive ionic liquid to be used as an ionic component that is contained in an ion-containing layer in a transducer arranged in contact with a high-resistance layer as a dielectric layer of the transducer, and is restrained from migrating from the ion-containing layer to the high-resistance layer on application of a voltage is provided. The reactive ionic liquid comprises an ion pair that consists of an anion and a cation. In the reactive ionic liquid, (a) the anion comprises (a1) a reactive group that consists of an alkoxysilyl group and (a2) an anionic group consisting of a carboxylate (—COO?) group or a sulfonate (—SO3?) group. (b) The cation (b1) consists of an imidazolium, ammonium, pyrrolidinium, morpholinium, or phosphonium cation, and (b2) does not comprise an N—H group or a P—H group.

Abstract: A flexible transducer includes: a dielectric layer including a semiconductor-containing layer that contains an elastomer and at least one of an inorganic semiconductor and an organic semiconductor; and a pair of electrodes disposed with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween, and containing a binder and a conductive material. The semiconductor-containing layer has a large dielectric constant and has high insulation properties. According to the flexible transducer, a large voltage can be applied between the electrodes, and a high output can be obtained.