Ferroelectric polarization mechanisms in nylon 11

Abstract : The combined results of piezoelectric coefficient (d31, e31) measurements, FTIR spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction studies of three dimensionally oriented Nylon 11 films reveal that the polarization occurs in the crystalline regions. In addition, the orientation of dipoles in a poled Nylon 11 film is not altered by a high temperature annealing treatment (185 deg C). This unique high temperature stability of dipole orientation in the crystalline regions provides a method to investigate the polarization mechanism for poled Nylon 11 films. Our results indicate that the difference in observed x-ray diffraction patterns from unpoled and poled films results from an initial 90 deg field induced dipole reorientation mechanism. Further dipole orientation appears to result from a 180 deg C switching mechanism.