Effects of tourmaline on the voltage response of PVDF filaments

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of a natural piezoelectric crystal material on the voltage response of polymeric filaments. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based piezoelectric filaments containing tourmaline (TM) powder were successfully produced. TM powder was directly blended in thermoplastic PVDF polymer at mass ratios of 1%, 3% and 5% via a compounder. Pristine PVDF filaments were also produced as control materials. Tensile properties, the surface morphologies and melting characteristics of resulting filaments were investigated.Piezoelectric beta-phase content was calculated from the intensity levels of peaks at certain wavenumbers obtained from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Voltage responses of the filaments were investigated by an impact test rig and recorded by a digital oscilloscope. The results show that the addition of TM powder into PVDF polymer did not have a negative effect on tenacity of the filaments but a slight increase in beta-phase content and the voltage response were observed with an increase in TM ratio.