PVDF-PZT Composite Films for Transducer Applications

Piezoelectric polymer-ceramic composites are promising materials for transducer applications. PVDF-PZT composite films have been developed with different weight fraction and particle size of PZT using a solvent cast method. Films are investigated using X-ray diffraction technique, scanning electronmicroscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry to study crystal structural changes, distribution of particles within the polymer matrix, the influence of these particles at themolecular level, and the changes induced in the melting transition and in the degree of crystallinity of the composites, respectively. The variation in these properties as a function of weight fraction (10–50%) and particle size (1 �m and ∼25 �m) of PZT has also been investigated. The composite films are tested for their application as acoustic emission (AE) sensor