PVDF-PZT Composite Films for Transducer Applications

Piezoelectric polymer-ceramic composites are promising materials for transducer applications. PVDF-PZT composite films have been developed with different weight fraction and particle size of PZT using a solvent cast method. Films are investigated using X-ray diffraction technique, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry to study crystal structural changes, distribution of particles within the polymer matrix, the influence of these particles at the molecular level, and the changes induced in the melting transition and in the degree of crystallinity of the composites, respectively. The variation in these properties as a function of weight fraction (10–50%) and particle size (1 μm and ∼25 μm) of PZT has also been investigated. The composite films are tested for their application as acoustic emission (AE) sensor. Keywords: PVDF-PZTpiezoelectricitysensorsX-ray diffractionSEMmechanical properties Acknowledgment The authors thank Dr. A. R. Upadhya, Director, NAL, and Mr. M. K. Sridhar, Head, MT, for the support. They also acknowledge the help of Ms. A. Gayathri, Mr. M. A. Venkataswamy, Mr. Venkataramaiah, Ms. Vanaja, and Mr. Sanjeev Kumar while characterizing the samples. The authors thank NPMASS and CSIR for funding this project.