Takuo Nakiri

Electrical properties of biodegradable polylactic acid film

We measured the basic electrical insulation characteristic of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA), and the following results were obtained. The volume resistivity, dielectric constant, and dielectric loss tangent measured at room temperature were almost the same as those of crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) currently used as insulating material for cables and electric wires. The mean impulse breakdown strength of PLA was about 1.3 times that of XLPE. Also, space charge accumulation in PLA and XLPE was measured. The amount of space charge accumulation in PLA was one-half that in XLPE when a DC voltage was applied for a short time.

Piezoelectric Characteristics of Polymer Film Oriented under a Strong Magnetic Field

The possibility has been indicated that polymers with helical chirality, such as poly-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate (PBLG) and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), exhibit a large shear piezoelectric constant. To attempt the realization of a PBLG membrane with a large piezoelectric constant, we fabricated the PBLG membrane oriented by magnetic field force. Concretely, the PBLG membranes were casted from 1,2-dichloroethane solution with various PBLG concentrations under the magnetic field generation equipment incorporating a superconducting magnet. First, the orientation of the chain molecules of the PBLG membranes obtained was observed macroscopically by means of a polarizing microscope (POM). The orientation of the chain molecules of the PBLG membranes was recognized for the case of casting from the PBLG 1,2-dichloroethane solution in the liquid crystal state. Also, from X-ray photograph measurements, it was found that the orientation direction of the chain molecules of PBLG was perpendicular to the magnetic field direction. We then measured the shear piezoelectric constant d14 of the oriented PBLG membranes. With increasing the strength of the applied magnetic field in the casting process for the film preparation, d14* of the PBLG membranes obtained increases. Finally, a large piezoelectric constant of 26 pC/N was found in the PBLG membrane. It is assumed that d14* is not saturated even at the magnetic field of 10 T.

Development of Electric Wire Using Biodegradable Polymer

We developed an interesting instrument in manufacturing a biodegradable polymer-insulated cable, with a variety of new functions. By using this instrument, we manufactured a poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA)-insulated cable. We measured the basic electrical insulation characteristic of the PLLA-insulated cable, and the following results were obtained. The mean breakdown strength of the PLLA-insulated electric wire was approximately 3.5-fold that of a polyvinyl chloride insulated and polyvinyl chloride sheathed flat-type cable (VVF cable). In addition, a bending test of the PLLA-insulated electric cable was performed.

Fundamental Study on Vibration in Edge Face of Piezoelectric Chiral Polymer Film

We evaluate the vibration in the edge face of a poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) film from the propagated signal of an ultrasonic wave generated by the excitation force of the edge. Although the excitation area is too small to drive the edge face, the vibration can be measured only using the fixing method that does not suppress the resonance and the equipment with a high signal-to-noise ratio. This is considered to be due to the fact that the theoretically calculated force of the PLLA film is more than 10 times larger than that of a well-known ferroelectric polymer film, poly(vinylidene fluoride). We confirm that the film functions as a resonator and can be applied to a resonated transducer. In spite of the vibration in the edge face of the polymer film, we observe compliant responses to excitations by burst or rectangular waves. The practicality of a resonator can be suggested.

Improvement of Piezoelectricity of Poly(L-lactide) Film by Using Acrylic Symmetric Block Copolymer as Additive

By using additives to change the higher-order structure of a poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) film, an improvement in its piezoelectricity was realized. The additive used was a triblock copolymer, which is a pure acrylic symmetric block copolymer consisting of a center block of poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA), corresponding to its soft part, and two side blocks of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), corresponding to its hard part. The triblock copolymer is hereafter denoted as PMMA-b-PBA-b-PMMA. The piezoelectric e-constant of the PLLA film with added PMMA-b-PBA-b-PMMA (PLLA/PMMA–PBA–PMMA film) was over two times higher than that of the PLLA film without adding PMMA-b-PBA-b-PMMA (reference PLLA film). Also, we found that the glass transition temperature increases with increasing PMMA-b-PBA-b-PMMA content. From atomic force microscopy (AFM) images, it was found that a new higher-order structure was formed in the PLLA/PMMA–PBA–PMMA film with high piezoelectricity. The method of using PMMA-b-PBA-b-PMMA has high productivity and its promising for industrial use.

Piezoelectric Characteristics of Chiral Polymer Composite Films Obtained under Strong Magnetic Field

It is difficult to obtain a drawn chiral polymer/inorganic material composite membrane with shear piezoelectricity by the conventional method because the chiral polymer/inorganic material composite membrane breaks during the drawing process by which shear piezoelectricity is realized. Using a strong magnetic field, we propose to manufacture a drawn composite membrane of poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA), a chiral polymer, and hydroxyapatite (Hap), an inoroganic material (PLLA/Hap composite membrane). The manufacturing method used here is effective for obtaining a drawn PLLA/Hap composite membrane with a large uniform area. Also, the shear piezoelectric constant of the drawn PLLA/Hap composite membrane is about 20 pC/N. This value is large for piezoelectric polymers.

Piezoelectric characteristics of three-dimensional solid object of poly(l-lactide) fabricated by three-dimensional printing

Through three-dimensional (3D) printing, we attempted to fabricate 3D solid objects with piezoelectricity. By optimizing the conditions of 3D printing, we realized the fabrication of a piezoelectric object by 3D printing. In fact, we could produce a poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) object similar to a smart phone case fabricated by 3D printing, the molded body of which has button sensors at the desired sites by exploiting the piezoelectric properties of PLLA. Finally, we confirmed that the PLLA object behaved as a fully functional sensor.

Piezoelectricity of fluorine-system porous electret and its application

We developed a piezoelectric polymer film that was an electret using a porous poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (p-PTFE) film with high piezoelectricity and high heat resistance. First, we found that the p-PTFE electret had a piezoelectric constant d33 of 100 pC/N after the optimization of its pore size. This value was about five times as large as that of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and was retained up to a temperature of as high as 120 °C. Then a new device using the laminated film with perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) laminated on one side of the p-PTFE electret was developed for the demonstration of pressure sensing. A new flexible device with a large area was realized. Then, for the demonstration of pressure sensing, a plastic touch pen for a touch panel was traced on the surface of the device at a constant speed of 80 mm/s under a compressive load of 0.05 N. The results confirmed that the device exhibited superior sensing responsiveness.

Development of electric wire using biodegradable polymer

We developed an interesting instrument for manufacturing a biodegradable-polymer-insulated cable, with a variety of new functions. Using this instrument, we manufactured a poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA)-insulated cable. We measured the basic electrical insulation characteristic of the PLLA-insulated cable, and the following results were obtained. The mean breakdown strength of PLLA-insulated electric wire was approximately 3.5 times that of a polyvinyl chloride-insulated electric wire (VVF cable). Also, a bending test of the PLLA-insulated electric cable was performed. We obtained good results.