Electromechanical properties of 0-3 vegetable based polyurethane and lead zirconate titanate composite

A composite made of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic powder and castor oil based polyurethane (PU) was prepared in the thin film form with 0-3 connectivity by spin coating. The composite films were obtained in the thickness range of 100 /spl mu/m to 300 /spl mu/m using 33-vol.% of ceramic. The samples showed flexibility and mechanical resistance. The material was characterised by dielectric spectroscopy, thermally stimulated discharge current (TSDC), hysteresis measurements and laser-intensity-modulation method (LIMM). The pyroelectric coefficient at 343 K was 7/spl times/10/sup -5/ C.m/sup -2/ K/sup -1/ for the sample poled with 10 MV/m at 373 K for 1 h. The results show that this new composite can be used in suitable piezo and pyroelectric sensors.