Improvement of Electric Field Induced Compressive Electrostriction of Polyurethane Composites Film Homogeneously Dispersed with Carbon Nanoparticles

Abstract

To obtain the high compressive electrostriction indicated by maximum strain (S_max) at low electric field (E_max), a dependence of solidification thickness on S_max was investigated for carbon nanoparticles dispersed polyurethane (PU) composite films. The thickness dependent S_max at 20 MV/m from 7.52% for 143 µm thickness to 47.7% for 21 µm thickness exhibited linear relationship, which was parallel to that of pure PU. Both thinning and nanoparticles addition enhanced the S_max within the linear relationship. Considering with crystalline volume fraction and crystalline periodicity, the thickness dependent S_max was explained. Effects of nanoparticles addition on S_max were probably contributed by the polarization enhancement induced by increasing the capacitance.