Piezoelectric polymer transducer and process of manufacturing the same

• US 4,670,074 A
• Filed: 10/16/1985
• Issued: 06/02/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomson-CSF (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson-CSF (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Facoetti, Hugues, Broussoux, Dominique, Micheron, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Czaja, Donald E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cashion, Jr., Merrell C.
• Application Number:
  US06/788,100
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 29/25-35, 156/194, 156/198, 156/229, 156/244.14, 156/244.27, 156/244.12, 156/272.2, 156/274.6, 156/274.4, 156/244.24, 53/451
• US Class Current: 156/198
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/005 using a piezoelectric polymer
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/098 Forming organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/2042 Cantilevers, i.e. having one fixed end
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1005 by inward collapsing of portion of hollow body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making

Abstract

A composite co-laminated piezoelectric transducer with at least one layer of polymeric substance capable of acquiring piezoelectric properties when co-laminated in the presence of an electrical field, the layer being adjacent to a conductive material acting as an electrode. According to the invention the conductive material is a polymeric substance.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a composite piezeoelectric transducer comprising the steps of:

forming two blades made of a first polymeric sbustance;

forming a solution including a solvent in which a second polymeric substance and carbon are dissolved;

depositing said solution in the form of a thin layer on faces of each one of said two blades;

evaporating the solvent from said two blades after depositing of said solution thereon, thereby causing a superficial dissolution of the substrate blades to take place ensuring the formation of the adhering conductive electrode layer;

pressing said two blades against each other while their respective electrodes engage one another to form an assembly; and

rolling said assembly between two rollers in the presence of an electric field, said rolling step applying a force acting between the two rollers ranging from 40 to 100 tons, said electric field ranging from 10 to 20 kV, asnd the temperature of the two rollers ranging from 50°

C. to 80°

C.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 further including the step of inserting a metal foil between the electrodes prior to said pressing step.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solution depositing step leaves a non-conductive outermargin, having a width range from 0.5 cm to 1 cm, at substantially the enitre periphery of said two blades, except in a small zone wherein a conductive lug is formed.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said blade forming step is carried out by compression-molding.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said blade forming step is carried out by extrusion.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solution is prepared at a temperature ranging from 80°

C. to 90°

C. while said solution is being agitated for approximately one hour.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solvent comrpises dimethylformamide.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solution depositing step is carried out at a temperature ranging from 60°

C. to 70°

C.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second polymeric substances are polyvinylidene fluoride.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressing step is carried out at a temperature of substantially 100°

C., under a pressure of sbustantially 10 kg/cm² for several minutes.

11. A method of manufacturing a composite piezoelectric transducer comprising the steps of:

forming a tube of an extruded first polymeric substance;

forming a solution including a solvent in which a second polymeric substance and carbon are dissolved;

coating an inner surface of said tube with said solution;

evaporating the solvent from said tube after said coating step, thereby causing a superficial dissolution of the tube to take place ensuring the formation of an adhering conductive electrode coating;

flattening said tube by pressing it between plates of a press; and

rolling the flattened tube in the presence of an electric field.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said coating step comprises filling the entire inner cavity of said tube.