Effects of pre-polarization on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of 0–3 type PIN–PMN–PT/PVDF composites

0–3 type composites based on pre-poled Pb(In_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃–Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–PbTiO₃ (PIN–PMN–PT) ceramic and poly-vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) have been fabricated. The dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the 0–3 composites were studied as a function of ceramic volume fraction. The results showed that the dielectric constant ε_r and piezoelectric strain constant d₃₃ were enhanced with an increase of ceramic volume fraction. The composites possessed lower acoustic impedance and better flexibility comparing to the PIN–PMN–PT ceramic with the same composition, but their acoustic impedance Z and elastic stiffness coefficient C₃₃ presented an abnormal decrease trend when a high volume fraction of ceramic (>80 %) was loaded in the composites. Since the Curie temperature of the PIN–PMN–PT ceramic reinforcement phase was much higher than the melting point of PVDF, pre-poled ceramic phase could keep its polarization during the subsequent complex processing. By comparing the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of composites using pre-poled ceramic with those using virgin one, it was found that pre-polarization of the PIN–PMN–PT reinforcement phase could improve the performance of these 0–3 type ceramic/polymer composites.