Altaf Arifianto
Pronouns: He/Him
Research Mentor(s): Wei Lu
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Mechanical Engineering / Engineering
Program:
Authors: Muhammad Rashad, Jonathan Ma
Session: Session 5: 2:40 pm – 3:30 pm
Poster: 83
Abstract
Piezoelectric polymer membranes have played a crucial role within our daily lives, having many real world applications. The optimized piezoelectric properties resulting from these processes contribute to the improvement of many different products such as piezoelectric film, which is commonly used in various types of pressure sensors, sensors that rely on touch, and actuation devices that are used to harvest different forms of energy. With this in mind, being able to maximize the piezoelectric capabilities of such materials is critical for the development of various technologies that play a critical role in daily life. In order to be able to maximize these capabilities, this particular study focuses on the mixture of the various materials and chemical substances at different amounts and ration, for the creation of different piezoelectric polymers, which will then be polled using the lab’s poling machine. Our procedure consists of using three main materials: PVDF, Zinc Oxide, and DMF. PVDF is a chemical compound with heavy piezoelectric capabilities, enabling the polymer created to have piezoelectric properties. Zinc Oxide, being a good conductor of electricity, allows the polymer to be poled with electricity. Lastly, using DMF as a solvent allows for the sludge material to be created, which is the base for polymer. We then optimized the mixture of piezoelectric materials, and tried to determine the ideal quantities for each material to maximize its maximum piezoelectric capabilities. After the polymer is created, we then pole the material using this machine. Poling is a process where the polymer is exposed to an electric field, allowing it to bend and stretch, An analysis of the results obtained from this research have yielded critical information regarding how to maximize the piezoelectric capabilities of PVDF. Firstly, it was found that in order to make the material as piezoelectric as possible, the powdered PVDF must first be air dried overnight. Secondly, the polymer after being poled produces a value that quantifies the amount of polling that has happened. The values that we get are usually around 1 which indicate that the piezoelectric property of the polymer has been maximized. The results gained from this research provided the information needed to enhance the capabilities for some materials to a greater extent. This is valuable as it has the potential to address gaps in the optimization of polymer membranes, providing practical insights with broad implications for diverse applications.
