Porous PTFE space-charge electrets for piezoelectric applications

Porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) films were positively or negatively corona charged at room or elevated temperatures. Their charge storage behavior was investigated by means of isothermal surface potential measurements in direct comparison to nominally nonporous samples of the same polymer. It was found that porosity may lead to significantly enhanced surface-charge stability for both polarities. Direct piezoelectricity was studied on quadruple, double, and single layer samples by means of quasi-static measurements. For the determination of indirect piezoelectricity, frequency-dependent acoustical-transducer experiments were carried out. Both applications-relevant measurements yielded piezoelectric d/sub 33/ coefficients of up to approximately 600 pC/N or 600 pm/V. These values are more than one order of magnitude higher than in conventional piezoelectric polymers such as polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) and almost comparable to the highest known values of inorganic piezoelectrics. Consequently, the novel piezoelectric porous-fluoropolymer spacecharge electrets exhibit an outstanding potential for various device applications that are very briefly discussed.