Low Young’s moduli induced D–E loop dispersion and its effect on the energy discharging performance of PVDF and P(VDF-co-HFP) films

Large-scale stretched films of PVDF and its copolymer P(VDF-co-HFP) with various molar contents of VDF were found to possess the considerable breakdown electric fields of about 900 MV/m. Under such a high electric field, soft polymer films with lower Young’s moduli are larger compressed, giving rise to a constraining of reversal of dipoles and thereby a depressing of the dielectric response. Consequently, the displacement–electric field loops at above 700 MV/m show a dispersion phenomenon, which agrees with the reduction of in phase dielectric constant from 10 to 7 in soft P(VDF-co-HFP) 85/15mol% thick film caused by ultra-high isostatic pressure of about 400Mpa. Comparatively, in mechanically stretched PVDF and 95.5/4.5mol% P(VDF-co-HFP) thick films with a relatively high hardness, the considerable discharged energy densities of 27.1 J/cm3 and 27.7 J/cm3 were obtained, providing an effective way to achieve high discharging performance for these fluoropolymers.