The Dielectric Relaxation of a Copolymer of Vinylidene Fluoride and Trifluoroethylene

Abstract

Dielectric relaxation of a ferroelectric copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene is analyzed using Skinner's soliton model. In the paraelectric phase, the model can reproduce the dielectric relaxation spectra; the soliton in this phase is in the intermediate state between the ballistic and the diffusive limit. The formation energy of the soliton is 10 kcal/mol and the formation enthalpy of the defect is 6.0 kcal/mol. In the ferroelectric phase, this model cannot reproduce the dielectric loss spectra. It is found that the effects of the dipole correlation and asymmetric crystal field potential should be taken into account.