Thermal diffusivity of lead titanate/polyvinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene nanocomposites by the mirage method

Thermal diffusivity D of lead titanate/polyvinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene {PT/P(VDF-TrFE)} nanocomposites has been measured by the skimming configuration of the mirage method. Diffusivity values are calculated by measuring the phase variation of the probe beam deflection signal upon changing both the vertical and horizontal probe beam offset values at different modulation frequencies of the pump beam. The thermal diffusivity of the nanocomposites is found to depend on the volume fraction of the ceramic in the composites. The composites with higher volume fraction of ceramic have higher thermal diffusivity and conductivity. Different models were used to predict the thermal conductivity (k) of composites and the measured values agree quite well with the Looyenga model.