In this study, a cylindrical near-field electrospining (CNFES) process will be used to fabricate permanent piezoelectricity of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric fibers, and a piezoelectric fiber harvesting device with parallel electrode was fabricated to capture ambient energy. First, the PVDF powder was mixed in acetone solution uniformly and the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was mixed with fluorosurfactant to prepare PVDF macromolecular solution. The PVDF macromolecular solution was filled in a metals needle injector and contacted a high power supply, after the PVDF drops in the needle was subjected to high electric field, the drops became a Taylor cone and overcame surface tension of the solution itself, extremely fine PVDF fiber was formed and jetted out. The fibers were collected numerous and quickly by homemade cylindrical collector and the diameter of fiber could be controlled easily by adjusting the rotating speed of the cylinder and the electric field. From the observation of XRD (X-ray diffraction), it reveals a high diffraction peak at 2£c=20.7¢X of piezoelectric crystal £]-phase structure by adjusting PVDF concentrations and DC voltage. By providing 7Hz shake and 0.23% strain, the piezoelectric fiber harvesting device with parallel electrode could generate 76mV; by providing 7Hz shake and 0.14% strain, the device could generate 1.1nA.

In this study, membranes were made from three polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymers individually and the blend systems of high (H) and low (L) molecular weight PVDF by phase inversion process. After investigating membrane casting solutions’ viscous and thermodynamic properties, the membranes so fabricated were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, gas permeation tests, porosity measurement, contact angle (CA) and liquid entry pressure of water (LEPw) measurement, and further subjected to vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) in a scenario that was applicable for cooling processes, where the feed water temperature was maintained at 27℃. It was found that PVDF solutions’ viscosities and thermodynamic instabilities were determined by the types of PVDF employed in single polymer systems and the mixing ratios of two PVDF polymers in blend systems. Thus the membrane properties and performances were influenced by the aforesaid factors as well. In single polymer systems, it was found that the membrane surface roughness and porosity increased with an increase in molecular weight. Among all the membranes casted in this study, the water vapor flux of VMD was found to be the highest at the intermediate range of H:L ratio, i.e., 4:6, at which the thickness of the sponge-like layer showed a minimum, the finger-like macro-voids formed a more orderly single-layer structure, and the LEPw showed a minimum. A conclusion can be made that blend systems of high molecular weight PVDF polymers and low molecular weight PVDF polymers could be used to optimize membrane performance in vacuum membrane distillation.

The present research focuses on the coupling of mechanical and electrical properties of materials and culminates in a direct connection between applied strain to thin-films, thin-film electron binding energy, the energy loss via plastic deformation provided by an indentation, and the substrate resistance. The methods used in this research include X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nanoindentation, digital optical microscopy, and sputter coat deposition. It is discovered that there is a shift in electron binding energy on the scale of 0.2 eV to 1.4 eV in gold and palladium thin-films sputtered on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) through the application of strain induced by a convex shape. There is a change in the area beneath the load-displacement curve measured via indentation from 5.55 x 10^-10 J to 4.78 x 10^-10 J when the gold-palladium thin-film sputtered on PVDF is changed from the flat arrangement to the convex arrangement. Furthermore, the strain also changed the electrical resistance of aluminum foil, which indicates that the substrate electrical resistance is affected by the induced strain. The internal resistance of a circuit developed for this research changed from 7.76 ohms for flat samples to 8.03 ohms and 8.33 ohms for flat and convex samples, respectively. It is expected that the research can be used to estimate the strain in nanogears and other devices at small length scales.

abstract: There is a strong medical need and important therapeutic applications for improved wireless bioelectric interfaces to the nervous system. Multichannel devices are desired for neural control of robotic prosthetics that interface to remaining nerves in limb stumps of amputees and as alternatives to traditional wired arrays used in for some types of brain stimulation. This present work investigates a new approach to ultrasound-powering of implantable microelectronic devices within the tissue that may better support such applications. These devices are of ultra-miniature size that is enabled by a wireless technique. This study investigates two types of ultrasound-powered neural interfaces for multichannel sensory feedback in neurostimulation. The piezoceramics lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer were the primary materials used to build the devices. They convert ultrasound to electricity that when rectified by a diode produce a current output that is neuro stimulatory to peripheral nerve or the neurons in the brain. Multichannel devices employ a form of spatial multiplexing that directs focused ultrasound towards localized and segmented regions of PVDF or PZT that allows independent channels of nerve actuation. Different frequencies of ultrasound were evaluated for best results. Firstly, a 2.25 MHz frequency signal that is reasonably penetrating through body tissue to an implant several centimeters deep and also a 5 MHz frequency more suited to application for actuation of devices within a less than a centimeter of nerve. Results show multichannel device performance to have a complex inter-relationship with frequency, size and thickness, angular incidence, channel separations, and number of folds (layers connected in series and parallel). The output electrical port impedances of PVDF devices were examined in relationship to that of stimulating electrodes and tissue interfaces. Miniature multichannel devices were constructed using an unreported method of employing state of the art laser cutting systems. The results show that PVDF based devices have advantages over PZT, because of better acoustic coupling with tissue, known better biocompatibility, and better separation between multiple channels. However, the PZT devices proved to be better overall in terms of compactness and higher outputs for a given ultrasound power level. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Bioengineering 2015

Orientador: João Sinezio de Carvalho Campos / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-09T23:13:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ribeiro_AlexandreAntunes_D.pdf: 21308910 bytes, checksum: 2d9c22a68b13b2f0d3bc147184a5c731 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: A área de biomateriais tem direcionado estudos para o desenvolvimento de materiais sintéticos ou artificiais que tenham propriedades semelhantes às do tecido ósseo humano. Dentre as diversas alternativas, uma das mais utilizadas é o recobrimento de substratos metálicos com biocerâmicas. Esta técnica possibilita combinar a biocompatibilidade, as propriedades mecânicas e a resistência à corrosão do titânio comercialmente puro (Ti cp), com a excelente biocompatibilidade das biocerâmicas de fosfato de cálcio, especialmente a hidroxiapatita (HA). O processo utilizado neste trabalho, denominado de ¿via polimérica¿, é uma das técnicas mais flexíveis e promissoras, pois possibilita combinar três materiais biocompatíveis (metal-polímero-cerâmica) facilmente encontrados no mercado, sendo o polímero o material transportador/fixador da HA na superfície do metal. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a característica físico-química dos recobrimentos de polímero polifluoreto de vinilideno (a-PVDF) e compósito a-PVDF/HA, obtidos pelo processo ¿via polimérica¿, sobre a superfície de titânio comercialmente puro (Ti cp) pré-modificada por irradiação por feixe de laser. A preparação dos recobrimentos se deu pela mistura de a- PVDF dissolvido em dimetilacetamida (DMA) com emulsão de HA também em DMA. Em seguida, espalhou-se a mistura sobre amostras de Ti cp e deixou-se em estufa para secar. Assim, amostras de Ti cp recobertas somente em uma das superfícies com filme compósito a-PVDF/HA, nas proporções em massa de 100/00 e 60/40, foram obtidas e caracterizadas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), espectroscopia por dispersão de energia de raios-X (EDS), difração de raios-X (DRX), análise de tamanho de partículas da HA utilizada, medida de espessura, ângulo de contato, teste de absorção de água, ensaio de flexão em três pontos, teste de resistência à adesão e fotografia das amostras. Os resultados mostraram que a metodologia utilizada proporcionou um recobrimento fortemente aderido e uniforme, com pouca variação de espessura ao longo da superfície recoberta / Abstract: The biomaterials area has been focused on the development of synthetic or artificial materials that have similar properties to the human bone tissue. Among the diverse alternatives, one of the most used is the metallic substrate coated with bioceramics. By this technique it is possible to combine biocompatibilty, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of commercially pure titanium (cp Ti) with the excellent biocompatibility of calcium phosphate bioceramics, specially the hydroxyapatite (HA). For this purpose, the polymeric method is one of the more flexible and promising techniques because it permits to combine three biocompatible materials (metal-polymer-ceramic) easily found in the market, being the polymer the HA-transporter/fixer material on the metal surface. The aim of this work was to study the physical-chemical characteristics of polivynilidene fluoride (a-PVDF) and a-PVDF/HA composite coatings, obtained by polymeric process, on cp Ti substrate surface pre-modified by laser beam irradiation. The preparation of coatings was done for mixturing a-PVDF pellets shape dissolved in dimethylacetamide (DMA) with HA/DMA emulsion. Soon afterwards, the mixtures were spread on the cp Ti samples and left to dry in an oven. Commercially pure titanium plates coated on only one of surfaces with a-PVDF/HA composite filme, in proportions of 100/00 and 60/40 in weight, were obtained and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), particle size analysis of the used HA, thickness measure, contact angle, water absorption test, three-point bend test, adhesion resistance test and photograph of the samples. The results showed that the used method provided a uniform and strongly adhered coating with little thickness variation along the coated surface / Doutorado / Ciencia e Tecnologia de Materiais / Doutor em Engenharia Química

Piezoelektriska material används flitigt i olika sensorer då de kan generera en mätbar elektrisk signal vid tryck eller töjning. Arbetet utreder hur ett piezoelektriskt garn innehållandes Polyvinyldiflourid (PVDF) påverkas av faktorer som långvarig mekanisk deformation, fukt och värme. Fokus har legat på det piezoelektriska garnets egenskaper men projektet undersöker också hur integrering i tyg samt applicering i en textil produkt fungerar. Det piezoelektriska garnet har utsatts för ett stort antal tester. I de flesta tester har proverna utvärderats genom cyklisk deformation i en extensometer. Det piezoelektriska garnet har undersökts genom experiment i laboratoriemiljö, praktiska tester i textila applikationer samt vid statistisk analys. Det kan konstateras att yttre faktorer så som fukt och temperatur har inverkan på garnets piezoelektriska effekt. Långvariga tester avslöjar hur garnet uppvisar en längdförändring vid deformation som bidrar till garnets minskade signalstyrka. Garnet kan framgångsrikt integreras i tyg genom sömnad vid rätt inställning för stygnlängd, där högre stygnlängd ger bättre resultat. Samma metod kan användas för att konstruera en piezoelektrisk sensor som appliceras i en träningsstrumpa. Slutsatsen av detta arbete är att parametrar som fukt, krypningsbeteende samt strukturell variation i de individuella PVDF-filamenten har en betydande effekt på det piezoelektriska garnets elektriska signal. Potential i garnets förmåga att fungera som sensor kan ses genom att garnet integrerats med tyg på ett framgångsrikt sätt i en träningsstrumpa för mätning av fotnedsättning. Det kvarstår mycket gällande forskning kring piezoelektriska filament och garn. Vidare forskning i ämnet kommer kunna leda till nya innovativa applikationsmöjligheter som kan komma till nytta inom olika delar av samhället, inte minst inom medicinska användningsområden. / Piezoelectric materials are frequently used in different sensors as they can generate a measurable electrical signal during applied pressure or when subjected to extension. This project examines how a piezoelectric yarn containing Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is affected when exposed to moisture, heat and long-term mechanical deformation. Focus has been directed towards investigating the properties of the piezoelectric yarn as well as how it can be applied in textile fabrics and textile applications. The piezoelectric yarn has been subjected to a series of tests. Most of the samples have undergone cyclic deformation in an extensometer during tests. The piezoelectric yarn has been examined by experiments in laboratory environment, practical tests in textile applications as well as by statistical analysis. It can be stated that factors such as moisture and temperature have influence on the piezoelectric effect of the yarn. Long-term tests reveal how the yarn displays a change in length while undergoing deformation, which contributes to the diminished signal strength of the yarn. The piezoelectric yarn can successfully be integrated in a piece of fabric by the means of sewing when using correct stitch- length, where higher stitch-length gives a higher signal output. The same method can be applied to construct a piezoelectric sensor used in a training sock. This project can conclude that parameters such as moisture, creep-behaviour and structural variation within the PVDF-filaments have a significant effect on the signal created by the piezoelectric yarn. The potential of the yarn as a sensor can be seen by successfully applying it to a textile structure as well as in a training sock that can monitor the fore and rear foot while running. It can be stated that much remains to be studied in this particular research area regarding piezoelectric filaments and yarns. Further research in the subject will lead to new innovative applications that can be of use in different parts of society, not to say the least in the area of medicine.

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No description available.

This study presents near-field electrospinning (NFES) on flat and hollow cylindrical process to fabricate permanent piezoelectricity of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/ multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) piezoelectric nanofibers. Then the mechanical properties of fibers were measured. PVDF is a potential piezoelectric polymer material combining desirable mechanical, thermal, electrical properties with excellent chemical resistance. The existing researches mostly focused on piezoelectric thin film process. However, the research of characteristic about piezoelectric fiber is little. The methods of measurement of the mechanical properties (Young¡¦s modulus, hardness, and tensile strength¡Belongation) of the electrospun PVDF/MWCN composite nanofiber were carried out by using nano-indention test (MTS Nanoindenter Windows XP System) and tensile test (Microforce Testing System). By setting electric field (1¡Ñ107 V/m), rotating velocity (900 rpm) of the hollow cylindrical glass tube on a motion X-Y stage (2 mm/sec) and PVDF solution concentration (16 wt%), and MWCNT (0.03 wt%), in-situ electric poling, mechanical stretching and morphology of PVDF nanofiber were demonstrated. After the experiments of nano-indention test and tensile strength test, it is suggested that the good mechanical properties in NFES on cylindrical process. The results show that the mechanical properties of composite nanofiber are better than the conventional NFES process. The Young¡¦s modulus of 16% PVDF fiber prepared by cylindrical process is 0.89 GPa and hardness is 26.5 MPa. The mechanical properties were increased 56.2% and 49.4% after adding 0.03% of MWCNT, corresponding to 1.39 GPa and 39.6 MPa. The tensile strength was increased 32.7% and elongation at breaking point was increased 35% after adding 0.03% MWCNT.

In nature, microscopic surface textures impact useful function, such as the drag reduction of shark skin (Dean & Bhushan, 2010) and superhydrophobicity of the lotus leaf(Pan, Kota, Mabry, & Tuteja, 2013). In this study, we explore these phenomena by re-creating microscopic surface textures via the method of interfacial flow instability in drying polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) acetone solutions. In general, PVDF films can be made using either spin coating or electrospray deposition with various weight concentrations in acetone. In order to study the morphology of the porous structure of PVDF films, wet deposition samples were fabricated by spin coating or near-field electrospray. Possible theories are discussed and examined to explain the formation of these porous structures resulting in development of a well-controlled method to create porous PVDF films with various pore sizes and pore densities. All samples are characterized and found to exhibit superhydrophobicity and drag reduction. To connect porous PVDF film morphology to the established field of dry particle fabrication, PVDF particle synthesis by far-field electrospray is also reviewed and discussed. An established method to generate polymer particles of different morphologies in other polymers (Almeria-Diez, 2012) by electrospray drying is confirmed using PVDF as well. Due to the ability of scalable and re-configurable electrospray, the microscopic surface textures can be applied to areas of any size to reduce drag or impart water-repelling properties.