Dramatically enhanced effective electrostriction in ferroelectric polymeric composites

This letter reports a ferroelectric polymeric composite concept with dramatically enhanced effective electrostriction, strain energy density, and electromechanical coupling factor, where high-dielectric-constant ceramics are arranged in series with ferroelectric polymers having large electrostrictive strain. We demonstrate the importance of the dielectric constant of the constituent phases and the microstructural geometry of the composite on the effective electrostriction of the material. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.