Thermal pulse study of the polarization distributions produced in polyvinylidene fluoride by corona poling at constant current

A thermal pulse study of the polarization profiles in samples of 12-μm-thick, biaxially oriented polyvinylidene fluoride after corona poling under approximately constant-current conditions, using a modified corona triode in atmospheric air, is reported. An electrical characterization of the corona triode is also reported to show how it may be operated in the constant-current mode. Samples poled without electrode on the corona-exposed surface show polarization distributions sensitive to the corona polarity, with polarization depletion on the corona side of the samples when the corona is positive. Polarization-reversal experiments show switching inhomogeneities with a pronounced dependence on the initial corona polarity. The above observations are consistent with a simple model in which positive charges from the positive corona partially penetrate the sample during poling and cause an inhomogeneous reduction of the poling field.