Electrostriction is the basis of electromechanical coupling in all
insulators. The quadratic electrostrictive
strain x
ij
associated with induced
polarization components Pk and
P
l
is given by
x
ij
=
Q
ijkl
P
k
P
l
.
Two converse
electrostrictive effects may also be defined. In this paper, some
trends in structure−property relationships
that govern electrostriction are identified, along with the problems
that limit our understanding of this
fundamental electromechanical property. Electrostrictive
coefficients range from the ∼10-3
m4/C2 in relaxor
ferroelectrics to ∼103 m4/C2 in
some polymers. High-sensitivity techniques, such as interferometry
or
compressometry, are necessary to accurately measure electrostrictive
effects in most insulators. But even in
low-K dielectrics, electrostrictive stresses may initiate breakdown in
high-field environments such as
microelectronic components with small dimensions, high-voltage
insulators, or in high-power lasers. In
polymeric materials, charge injection mechanisms may produce local
electric field concentrations that can
cause large electrostrictive strains. The electromechanical
properties in polymers have also been observed to
vary with the thickness of the specimen. A brief description of
the anharmonic nature of electrostriction and
its frequency dependence is included.