DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE OF AN ELECTROSTRICTIVE-POLYMER-FILM ACOUSTIC ACTUATOR

This paper discusses a novel electroacoustic transducer that uses the electrostrictive response of a polymer film. The active element of the transducer is a thin silicone-rubber film, with graphite powder elect rodes on each side, that forms an array of bubble-like radiating eleme nts. In experiments, radiated acoustic pressure and harmonic distortio n of the electrostrictive-film actuator were measured in the frequency band 50-2000 Hz. A simple acoustic model was also developed to study the effect of various design and operating parameters on the actuator performance. Preliminary results from the experiments and simulations show that the electrostrictive-polymer-film actuator has the potential to be an efficient, compact, and lightweight electroacoustic transduc er. (C) 1998 Academic Press.