Piezoelectric materials electroactive composites

This chapter discusses materials known as electroactive composites. These are mixtures of an electroactive (or in the present context, ferroelectric) ceramic phase and a polymer phase. Early sections will look at the individual phases, making use of piezoelectric parameters defined in Chapter 5. A summary of theoretical models will then be given, before preparation and characterization are discussed. Finally, the problems associated with producing an active device and examples of working systems will be considered. 

Piezoelectric and ferroelectric polymers have been recognized as a new class of electroactive materials when the significant piezoelectricity in polyvinyhdene fluoride (PVDF or PVF2) was discovered by Kawai (1969). Since then, a variety of new piezoelectric polymers have been developed including copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene, P(VF2-TrFE), odd-numbered nylons, composite polymers, etc. These materials offer options of material selections for sensor and actuator technologies that need lightweight electroactive materials. 

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