THE HIGH-PRESSURE CRYSTALLIZATION BEHAVIORS AND PIEZOELECTRICITY OF EXTENDED-CHAIN LAMELLAR CRYSTALS OF VINYLIDENE FLUORIDE TRIFLUOROETHYLENE COPOLYMERS WITH HIGH MOLAR CONTENT OF VINYLIDENE FLUORIDE

In order to improve piezoelectric properties, high-pressure crystalliz ation behaviours of copolymers of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) and triflu oroethylene with high molar content of VDF (86 and 94 mol%) were studi ed by high-pressure d.t.a., and high-pressure crystallized films were characterized by d.s.c., X-ray diffraction, and piezoelectric resonanc e. The pressure-phase diagrams showed that these polymers have the hex agonal (paraelectric) phase at high pressures. The films crystallized in this phase result in extended beta-form crystals (beta C-ECCs) comp osed of planar zig-zag chains. Since their hexagonal phase appears in a lower temperature range as compared to the hexagonal phase of PVDF, well-developed P-ECC films were obtained easily without serious therma l degradation. The electromechanical coupling factor (k(t)) of beta-EC C him for thickness extensional mode is 0.19 for 86 mol% copolymer, an d 0.15 for 94 mol% VDF copolymer. These copolymers retain stable piezo electric activity up to the melting temperature (165 and 186 degrees C for 86 and 94 mol% VDF copolymers, respectively). (C) 1997 Elevier Sc ience Ltd.