USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

George J Kavarnos

Thomas S Ramotowski

Wendell C Maciejewski

Qiming Zhang

Kurt J Janecek

Elizabeth A McLaughlin

The present invention is a new class of terpolymers for use as high strain electrostrictive polymer films. More particularly, the invention is a class of electrostrictive terpolymers comprising vinylidene fluoride (VDF), trifluoroethylene (TrFE) and at least one monomer having at least one halogen atom side group. The monomer is preferably an ethylene-based monomer and preferably selected to favor gauche-type linkage along the polymer backbone. The halogen atom side group is preferably large enough to move or cause adjacent polymer chains to be farther apart from or away from each other than in the absence of such side group, but not so large that it would inhibit polymer crystallites from forming. The monomer is preferably a chloro-monomer such as chlorofluoroethylene (CFE). The chlorofluoroethylene (CFE) is preferably 1-chloro-2-fluoroethylene or 1-chloro-1-fluoroethylene. The chlorofluoroethylene (CFE) favors gauche-type linkage which favors high electrostrictive strains.

High strain electrostrictive polymer

A weld joint test fixture for testing the strength of a weld joining seve members forming a test specimen is provided. The fixture includes a base which supports the test specimen and an attachment for applying a testing force to the test specimen while the test specimen is supported by the base. The fixture further includes holding elements attached to the base for holding the test specimen on the base during the application of the testing force. The holding elements preferably engage one of the members forming the test specimen without engaging another of the members. The fixture may also include the holding elements being designed to oppose the testing force substantially only by forces directed in a plane parallel to the applied testing force.

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New London, CT, United States of America

George J Kavarnos