Piezoelectricity and Pyroelectricity of Polymers

This article surveys theoretical and experimental work on piezo- and pyroelectricity of polymers in the 1970's with special emphasis on the origins of these properties. The origins are classified into three types: (A) internal strain (§2), (B) strain- and temperature-dependences of spontaneous polarization (§3), and (C) elastic and/or dielectric heterogeneity of a system with embedded charges (§4). The origin of piezo- and pyroelectricity of poly(vinylidene fluoride) is discussed as a typical example of electret (§5). Piezoelectric relaxations of polymers are discussed in some detail (§6). Methods of measurements of piezo- and pyroelectric constants of polymer films (§7) and applications of polymer films as new transducer materials (§8) are briefly reviewed.