Characterization of the Mechanical and Piezoelectric Properties of Polymer Fibers

The development of piezoelectric materials has enabled new realms of fine precision motors, sensors, and generators. The most commonly used piezoelectrics are ceramics. Less commonly used are also piezoelectric polymers such as polyvinylidene-fluoride (PVDF). PVDF has applications in the biomedical industry as a sanitary and sensing material, as well as having applications in the aerospace industry as a sensing material for skins and structures. Most of the information regarding the piezoelectric properties of PVDF applies only to a woven mat of polymer created through the electrospinning process. This study aims to characterize the Young’s Modulus and direct piezoelectric effect constant of an individual fiber of the PVDF polymer. To this end, an experimental setup that was constructed during a previous OURE project will be utilized, which has the capability to apply mechanical stresses to fibers while measuring the voltage generated by the fiber.