Electrostriction of composites of polyurethane (PU) with ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic particles

Electrostrictive composites of thermoplastic elastomer polyurethane (PU) and the ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) of various volume fractions have been prepared by hot-roller miller. X-ray diffraction results and SEM micrographs showed that the ceramic crystallized in the ferroelectric phase and was dispersed uniformly in the elastomer. The elastic modulus and dielectric permittivity increased with PZT volume fractions. For composites of low PZT volume fraction, negative electrostrictive strain (contraction) was observed. As the PZT volume fraction increased to more than 6%, the composites exhibited a switching characteristic when the applied electric field was increased to a critical value. The critical electric fields decreased with increasing PZT volume fractions. This effect can be explained as the resultant of the electrostriction of PU and polarization reversal of the PZT at high field. This interesting property of the PU/PZT composite will lead to some switching actuations for high electric field applications.