Dielectric and electromechanical studies of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) fabricated from plastisol

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plastisol is used in many industrial applications and is considered an electrically inactive material. To explore the potential of plastisol as an electroactive material, the dielectric properties, space charge distribution, mechanical properties, internal structure and electromechanical behavior of plasticized PVC (PVC gel) prepared from plastisol by heating were investigated. The gel exhibited a large dielectric constant at low frequencies (11000 Hz), an asymmetric charge distribution and excellent mechanical properties. Various DC electric fields were applied to the gel placed parallel between two electrodes and the electrostatic adhesive force to the anode was measured. The results of small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering suggested that the electromechanical properties of the gel originated from the characteristics of the physical crosslinking distance (ca 20 nm) of PVC in the gel structure. Considering the dielectric properties, space charge density and adhesion force to the anode, PVC gels prepared from plastisol using the heating method have potential for use as electroactive materials. (c) 2013 Society of Chemical Industry