Characterization of a large-area PVDF thin film for electro-mechanical and ultrasonic sensing applications

Rathod, VT and Mahapatra, Roy D and Jain, Anjana and Gayathri, A (2010) Characterization of a large-area PVDF thin film for electro-mechanical and ultrasonic sensing applications. In: Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 163 (1). pp. 164-171.

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Abstract

Large-area PVDF thin films have been prepared and characterized for quasi-static and high frequency dynamic strain sensing applications. These films are prepared using hot press method and the piezoelectric phase (beta-phase) has been achieved by thermo-mechanical treatment and poling under DC field. The fabricated films have been characterized for quasi-static strain sensing and the linear strain-voltage relationship obtained is promising. In order to evaluate the ultrasonic sensing properties, a PZT wafer has been used to launch Lamb waves in a metal beam on which the PVDF film sensor is bonded at a distance. The voltage signals obtained from the PVDF films have been compared with another PZT wafer sensor placed on the opposite surface of the beam as a reference signal. Due to higher stiffness and higher thickness of the PZT wafer sensors, certain resonance patterns significantly degrade the sensor sensitivity curves. Whereas, the present results show that the large-area PVDF sensors can be superior with the signal amplitude comparable to that of PZT sensors and with no resonance-induced effect, which is due to low mechanical impedance, smaller thickness and larger area of the PVDF film. Moreover, the developed PVDF sensors are able to capture both A(0) and S-0 modes of Lamb wave, whereas the PZT sensors captures only A(0) mode in the same scale of voltage output. This shows promises in using large-area PVDF films with various surface patterns on structures for distributed sensing and structural health monitoring under quasi-static, vibration and ultrasonic situations. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Sensors and Actuators A: Physical
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Elsevier Science.
Keywords:	PVDF; Thin film; Piezoelectricity; Ultrasonic; Lamb wave; Structural health monitoring
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Aerospace Engineering(Formerly Aeronautical Engineering)
Date Deposited:	29 Nov 2010 11:55
Last Modified:	29 Nov 2010 11:55
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/33963

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