Novel Additive Manufacturing-Based Electric Poling Process of PVDF Polymer for Piezoelectric Device Applications

• US 20160016369A1
• Filed: 05/21/2015
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of South Carolina
• Original Assignee: University of South Carolina
• Inventors: Tarbutton, Joshua, Lee, Chabum
• Application Number:
  US14/718,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20160016369A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/106 using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/118 using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 71/0081 using an electric field, e.g. for electrostatic charging electrostatic pinning of extruded material B29C48/9165; fixing linings by electrostatic charges B29C63/0043
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/16 PVDF, i.e. polyvinylidene fluoride
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 70/00 Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/084 by moulding or extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/098 Forming organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/857 Macromolecular compositions

Abstract

Methods for forming a piezoelectric device are provided. The method can comprise: electrically poling and printing the piezoelectric device from a polymeric filament simultaneously. The polymeric filament can comprise a polyvinylidene fluoride polymer (e.g., a β phase polyvinylidene fluoride polymer, such as formed by simultaneously stretching and electric poling an electrically inactive α phase polyvinylidene fluoride polymer).

Claims

1. A method of forming a piezoelectric device, the method comprising:

electrically poling and printing the piezoelectric device from a polymeric filament simultaneously, wherein the polymeric filament comprises a polyvinylidene fluoride polymer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric device is a 3D device.

3. The method of claim 1, where the piezoelectric device is built one-layer at a time from the bottom up.

4. The method of any claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric device comprises β

phase polyvinylidene fluoride polymer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the R phase polyvinylidene fluoride polymer is formed by:

simultaneously stretching and electric poling an electrically inactive a phase polyvinylidene fluoride polymer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric filament is formed from a polymeric material passed through an extrusion nozzle while the nozzle is heated at a temperature that is greater than the glass transition temperature of the polymeric material.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the nozzle has a temperature during printing in the range of about 185°

C. to about 275°

C.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the nozzle has a temperature during printing in the range of about 200°

C. to about 250°

C.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the nozzle has a temperature during printing in the range of about 225°

C. to about 235°

C.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein electrically poling is achieved by applying an electric field between the nozzle of the extruder and the printing surface of about 1.0 MV/m to about 3.0 MV/m.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein electrically poling is achieved by applying an electric field between the nozzle of the extruder and the printing surface of about 1.5 MV/m to about 2.5 MV/m.

12. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the polymeric filament has a diameter of about 200 μ

m to about 1 mm.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric filament has a diameter of about 250 μ

m to about 750 μ

m.

14. The method of claim 1, comprising:

mechanically and electrically poling and printing the piezoelectric device from a polymeric filament simultaneously.

15. The method of claim 1, comprising:

mechanically, thermally, and electrically poling and printing the piezoelectric device from a polymeric filament simultaneously.