n lctrctv plymr (P) s plymr tht xhbts chng n sz r shp whn stmltd by n lctrc fld. Th mst cmmn pplctns f ths typ f mtrl r n cttrs nd snsrs. typcl chrctrstc prprty f n P s tht thy wll ndrg lrg mnt f dfrmtn whl sstnng lrg frcs.
Th mjrty f hstrc cttrs r md f crmc pzlctrc mtrls. Whl ths mtrls r bl t wthstnd lrg frcs, thy cmmnly wll nly dfrm frctn f prcnt. n th lt 1990s, t hs bn dmnstrtd tht sm Ps cn xhbt p t 380% strn, whch s mch mr thn ny crmc cttr. n f th mst cmmn pplctns fr Ps s n th fld f rbtcs n th dvlpmnt f rtfcl mscls; ths, n lctrctv plymr s ftn rfrrd t s n rtfcl mscl.