Characteristics of Piezoelectric Polymeric PVDF Sensor by Impact Testing

Abstract

The 18 wt% poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) fibers were near-field electrospun at a flow rate of 139 nL/min, an electric field of 12 kV/cm, and a collector speed of 500 mm/s. A PVDF fiber array consisting of 20 fibers was adhered to the flexible PET film. A PVDF and a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) sensors were attached at a distance of 5 mm from the clamped end of the Al cantilever. The vibration sensing capabilities of sensors were examined by measuring the potential generated by the sensors during impact testing. Although the voltage of PVDF sensor was 200 times smaller than that of PZT sensor, the waveforms of the sensor output were similar. Both sensors were determined to be sensitive to variations in the level of dynamic strain due to the inherent piezoelectricity. The spectral results of both sensors exhibited the same signal generated by natural frequency of cantilever.