Polable elastomers
Poling of polymers by an electric field has been used in electret synthesis as well as in the synthesis of non-linear optical materials. Our group uses elastomer composites containing polar polable polymer nanoparticles having a high Tg. We orient and freeze the polar moieties in the nanoparticles by using a process described below and achieved novel functional materials.
Figure: Description of the poling process of a cross-linked silicone nanocomposite thin film sandwiched between two electrodes: a) the film is heated above Tg of the nanoparticles, b) a voltage is applied on the film and pole the polar moieties, and c) the film is cooled while the electric field is maintained to freeze in the oriented polar moieties.
References:
Y. S. Ko, et al., Proc. of SPIE, 2016; Y. S. Ko, et al., Proc. of SPIE, 2015, 94302U.
