Piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride-based epoxy composites produced by combined uniaxial compression and poling

TL;DR

This paper introduces a straightforward method combining uniaxial compression and poling to produce PVDF-based epoxy composites with enhanced piezoelectric properties, suitable for bulk device applications.

Contribution

It presents a novel, efficient fabrication process for piezoelectric composites that outperform neat PVDF in piezoelectric response and can be used for bulk device creation.

Findings

Piezoelectric factors slightly higher than neat PVDF.

Rapid response and quick saturation voltage under mechanical stimulus.

Potential for bulk piezoelectric device applications.

Abstract

We present a simple, efficient method, which combines uniaxial compression and subsequent poling, to produce piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride-based epoxy composites. The values of the piezoelectric factors obtained are slightly higher than those of neat piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride. The composites respond rapidly and reach a saturation voltage output, to the application of mechanical stimulus quickly. The composites are promising for the creation of bulk piezoelectric devices, different from the usual stretched films, exploiting the physic-chemical a of the epoxy matrix. The piezoelectric factor d31 versus the mechanical stimulus for the specimens studied, scale according to a double logarithmic representation.