Voltage response of piezoelectric PVDF films in vacuum and at elevated temperatures

• Published in: Smart materials and structures Vol. 21; no. 8; pp. 85028 - 1-6
• Main Authors: Vatansever, D, Hadimani, R L, Shah, T, Siores, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.08.2012; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atmospheric pressure; Barometric pressure; Electric potential; Electrical, magnetic and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; Ovens; Physicochemistry of polymers; Piezoelectric films; Piezoelectricity; Polyvinylidene fluorides; Properties and characterization; Voltage; Voltage dependence; Voltage source; Vacuum; Atmospheric pressure; Vinylidene fluoride polymer; Temperature effect; Piezoelectricity; High temperature
• ISSN: 0964-1726; 1361-665X
• DOI: 10.1088/0964-1726/21/8/085028

Poled poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, is a well known polymeric material which has a larger piezoelectric coefficient compared to any other polymer that exhibits the piezoelectric effect. In this work, we have investigated the voltage response to a mechanical stimulus of PVDF based piezoelectric films in vacuum and at various temperatures by using a vacuum oven. To determine the effect of vacuum and the temperature change on the voltage generation, PVDF films were first investigated at ambient conditions then their voltage generation was also studied in vacuum (75 cm Hg below atmospheric pressure) at various temperatures in the range of room temperature to 90 °C. The results show that the influence of applied vacuum on voltage generated by the PVDF based films was more significant than the influence of the variation of temperature used in this study.