Perovskite lead zirconate (PbZrO 3 Þ was synthesized in an orthorhombic form at a temperature below the Curie temperature, T C . The orthorhombic form is a noncentrosymmetric structure which is capable of spontaneous polarization. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and X-ray di®raction (XRD) patterns con¯rm the successful synthesis of the lead zirconate; and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs indicate that PbZrO 3 particles are moderately dispersed in the natural rubber (NR) matrix. Without an electrical¯eld, the particles merely act as a ferroelectric¯ller, which can absorb and store additional stress. Under an electrical¯eld, particle-induced dipole moments are generated, leading to interparticle interaction and a substantial increase in the storage modulus. At a small amount of lead zirconate particulates present in the natural rubber matrix, at a volume fraction of 0.007306, the electrical conductivity increases dramatically by nearly two orders of magnitude at the electrical frequency of 500 kHz.
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