High-signal electrostriction in ferroelectric materials

Abstract

With respect to frequently desired actuators, high-signal electrostrictive deformation is an electromechanical alternative to the piezoelectric effect. Several disadvantages, which conflict with general applications, are investigated. Possibilities to overcome or reduce such disadvantages are discussed and suitable materials presented. General remarks on the high-signal electrostriction are made to explain the qualitative differences in the shapes of the strain-field curves.