Electrorheological properties of novel piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate Pb(Zr0.5,Ti0.5)O3-acrylic rubber composites

Perovskite lead zirconate titanate, comprised of PbTi1 − xO3 and PbZrxO3, was synthesized at a temperature below the Curie temperature, TC. The tetragonal form obtained is a noncentrosymmetric structure capable of spontaneous polarization. FTIR spectra and XRD patterns confirm the successful synthesis of the lead zirconate titanate (PZT). PZT particles were mixed with an arcrylic rubber solution and cast as a thin sheet. SEM micrographs indicate that PZT particles are moderately dispersed in the acrylic rubber (AR71) matrix. Without electric field, the particles merely act as a reinforcing filler which can absorb and store additional stress. Under electric field, particle-induced dipole moments are generated, leading to interparticle interactions, and a substantial increase in the storage modulus. At a lead zirconate titanate volume fraction of 0.038600, the storage modulus response attains its maximum value with the corresponding storage modulus sensitivity value of 0.58 as the electric field strength is varied from 0 to 2 kV/mm.