Ferroelectric behavior in nylons of metaxylylenediamine and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids

Abstract

Polyamides of m-xylylenediane and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids with the number of carbon atoms n=6-11,13 (abbreviated to MXD n) exhibited D-E (electric displacement-electric field) hysteresis for quenched samples irrespective as to whether n was odd or even. The remanent polarization ranged from 23 to 67 mCm/sup -2/, vanishing rapidly at high temperature near the glass transition. The ferroelectric behavior in nylon MXD n is likely related to the alignment of amide groups at high electric field in amorphous regions.<>