Effect of interface diffusion on the strain and stress stability of particulate reinforced electrostrictive materials

This paper presents an analytical method to solve the creep rate and stress relaxation behaviors of particle reinforced electrostrictive composites induced by the interface diffusion between particle and electrostrictive matrix, subjected to external electric fields. Based on the microstructures evolution theory and electroelastic theory of electrostrictive materials, the thermodynamic equations of creep rate and stress relaxation induced by the interface diffusion are, respectively, deduced and solved. The investigation results show that the strain and stress stabilities of particle reinforced electrostrictive materials can be enhanced by optimizing the shape, stiffness and volume fraction of reinforced particles.