Pyroelectricity and Piezoelectricity in Nylon 11.

Pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties of polyvinylidene fluoride have been widely reported in the literature. Investigations on similar properties in other classes of polymers have been relatively restricted. This paper describes preliminary pyroelectric and piezoelectric results obtained with commercial films of Nylon 11. The results of dielectric constant measurements in the temperature range of 20C-130C are also presented. Nylon 11 films show quite high pyroelectricity and the evidence indicates that there is probably dipole orientation in crystalline regions. Charge injection or volume polarization, as well as dipole orientation was shown to contribute to the pyroelectricity unless the sample was thoroughly relaxed.