Effect of water absorption on the mechanical properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride‐trifluoroethylene) copolymer films

Electroactive polymers are smart materials that respond to electrical stimulation by changing their shape and size. The objective of this study is to investigate the applicability of the poly(vinylidene fluoride‐trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF‐TrFE)) copolymer in sensors or actuators in an in vivo environment. The basic mechanical properties of P(VDF‐TrFE) thin films were estimated by carrying out tensile and creep tests using specimens submerged in water at 30°C for a few weeks. Furthermore, X‐ray diffraction analysis was employed to observe the micro‐structural changes in the P(VDF‐TrFE) films due to water absorption wherein water intercalated in the interstitial sites between the chains of the P(VDF‐TrFE) films. Consequently, the mechanical properties of the P(VDF‐TrFE) films were enhanced due to water absorption. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2654–2659, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers