Evaluation of PVDF Piezopolymer for Use as a Shock Gauge

摘要

About a century ago, piezoelectric solids such as quartz and ceramics werediscovered. They have been since used as phonograph pickups, transducers and spark igniters for gas stoves, among other things. However, they aren't universally useful. Because of their brittleness, it is difficult to make them into complex shapes, and, because of their high stiffness, they vibrate for a long time, which is undesirable in applications where rapid damping is required. The phenomenon of a material's dimensions changing when it is subjected to an electric field is known as piezoelectricity (from the Greek piezo for pressure) and has been defined by Cady (1946) as polarization of electric charge produced by mechanical strain, the polarization being proportional to the amount of strain. The reverse is also true-an applied charge will induce a mechanical strain in the material. Reprints. (jes)