Ferroelectric Properties of Nylon 11 and Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Blends QIONG GAO

Both poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF2) and nylon 11 are ferroelectric polymers, and have been extensively studied over the past two decades. Blend films were made from mixed powders of these two polymers, which were then melt pressed and cold drawn. The ferroelectric properties of these blend films were investigated. The remnant polarization, P(r), was found to vary with composition, and to be 60% larger than that of either component at a 50/50 (by weight) composition where P(r) exhibited a maximum of about 90 mC/m(2). The magnitude of the coercive field, E(c), also exhibited a maximum at this composition. Both P(r) and E(c) are also observed to change significantly with the draw ratio. The results are discussed based on a two-phase dielectric composite model.