Evaluation of macroscopic polarization and actuation abilities of electrostrictive dipolar polymers using the microscopic Debye/Langevin formalism

Abstract

Electrostrictive polymers, as an important category of electroactive polymers, are known to have non-linear response in terms of actuation that strongly affects their dynamic performance and limits their applications. Very few models exist in the literature, and even fewer are capable of making reliable predictions under an electric field. In this paper, electrostrictive strain of dipolar polymeric systems is discussed through constitutive equations derived from the Boltzmann statistics and Debye/Langevin formalism. Macroscopic polarization is expressed as a function of the inherent microscopic parameters of the dielectric material. Electrostrictive strain, polarization and dielectric permittivity are described well by the model in terms of dipole moment and saturation of dipole orientation, allowing the physical definition of the electrostrictive coefficient Q. Maxwell forces generated by dipolar orientation inducing surface charges are also used to explain the electrostrictive strain of polymers. The assessment of this analysis through a comparison with experimental data shows good agreement between reported values and theoretical predictions. These materials are generally used in low-frequency applications, thus the interfacial phenomena that are responsible for low saturation electric field should not be omitted so as not to underestimate or overestimate the low electric field response of the electrostrictive strain.