Electric Field Induced Strain in Electrostrictive Polymers Under High Hydrostatic Pressure - System Development and Material Characterization

摘要

This program has been used to support the training of a graduate student, Steve Gross, in the area of (i) developing a high performance piezo- bimorph based dilatometer which can be used to characterize the electric field induced strain response in polymer films under high hydrostatic pressure, (ii) using the set-up developed to evaluate the field induced strain performance of high energy electron irradiated P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer. As a result of this program, a unique dilatometer, which has a sub-angstrom resolution and can be used under high hydrostatic pressure was developed. The study of the field- induced strain under high hydrostatic pressure showed that the high energy electron irradiated copolymer has a very high load capability and can maintain the high strain level to more than 1000 psi pressure. Under the support of this program, Mr. S. Gross has completed his MS degree and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at the Electrical Engineering Department of Penn State University.