Bending-electrostrictive response of polyurethane films subjected to a reversed electric field

This study dealt with the bending-electrostrictive response of a polyurethane film, which was a promising candidate for a material to be used in polymer actuators. The film bent under an electric field (2.5 MV/m). However, when the field polarity was reversed, the bending direction curiously did not change. To clarify the mechanism of this behavior, we measured the space charge distribution in the film. The measurement showed a pair of charges (induced charge on an electrode and space charge in the film) on one side of the film during the application of the field. However, when the field polarity was reversed, the location of the charges did not change. The charges were assumed to be the cause of the bending. Therefore, we concluded that the bending direction did not change despite the reversed field because the location of the charges did not change. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.