Piezoelectric properties of benzyl cellulose

It is desirable to develop high-level piezoelectric materials of cellulose derivatives. This study was intended to determine the electrical properties, particularly the piezoelectric effect of benzyl cellulose which has a resonance structure at the side chain, that is the benzene ring. It may be possible to orient the benzene ring by applying a magnetic field. The value of the dielectric constant increased with the increase of the DS (degree of substitution). The value of it was about 15 at DS=2. By drawing under 40 degrees C, the film of benzyl cellulose was streched double. The value of the piezoelectric constant of it was about 8x10-(13) C/N. BY applying a magnetic field of 8,000 gauss after drawing twice, the value of its piezoelectric constant was about 3x10(-12) C/N, which value is almost the same as the value of cyanoethylated cellulose. It may be possible to increase the piezoelectric constant by getting an electrically functional group in the benzene ring, drawing for orienting molecular chains, and applying an electric or magnetic field for arranging the side chains.