Polymer Composite Films with P(VDF-TrFE) and Molecular Ferroelectric Tris(hydroxymethyl) Nitromethane: Improvement of Their Ferroelectric Properties

Polymer composites of P(VDF-TrFE) and Tri(hydroxymethyl) nitromethane as filler material with different concentrations have been prepared. Tris(hydroxymethyl) nitromethane is an organic ferroelectric material with low preparation cost and easy processing, and it is also lightweight. Its properties enable it to be a potential candidate for use as filler material in polymers to improve their ferroelectric, dielectric, and piezoelectric properties. We investigated the effect of filler content on the ferroelectric and dielectric properties of the polymer. Our results show that Tris(hydroxymethyl) nitromethane retains its crystallinity after embedding it in the polymer matrix. It does not alter the crystalline ferroelectric β-phase of the polymer. All composites possess higher polarization compared to pure P(VDF-TrFE). Up to 11.4 µC/cm2 remnant polarization and a dielectric constant of 14 at 1000 Hz have been obtained with the free-standing 10 wt% composite film.