3D Printed PVDF

Abstract

In this paper we report on the 3D printing and testing of the piezoelectric polymer polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF). Samples of PVDF were fabricated using a fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer and then activated using a corona poling process. The d33 piezoelectric coefficient, which is related to the overall piezoelectric performance, was experimentally measured using a d33 meter to be 6 pC/N. While less than commercially available PVDF fabricated using traditional techniques (which can have a d33 between 10 and 40 pC/N), the value of 6 pC/N achieved in this work is several orders of magnitude larger than comparable previously published results for 3D printed PVDF, and as a result represents a significant step in the 3D printing of piezoelectric polymers.