Charged polypropylene films with a cellular structure show pseudopiezoelectric properties. Measurements of the direct and inverse electromechanical transducer constants of such films, relating to the operation as sensors and as actuators, respectively, yield values of ≈200 pC/N. These values can be explained with a theoretical model by assuming reasonable charge distributions and charge densities. The experimental and the theoretical results show the reciprocity of the transducer constants.

Permanently charged films with a cellular or porous structure represent a new family of polymer electrets. These materials show piezoelectric properties with high piezoelectric constants. The electromechanical response equations of such films are derived for their operation as sensors and as actuators. Experimental results are also presented for cellular polypropylene (PP). In particular, measurements of the direct and inverse piezoelectric constants in the frequency range 0 to 10 kHz and of the variation of these constants across the surface of the films are discussed. These measurements, performed by direct application of stress or by the use of a profilometer, an accelerometer and an interferometer yield a frequency-independent piezoelectric $33 constant of 5 220 pC1N. Assuming reasonable charge distributions and charge densities, the calculated piezoelectric constants are in good agreement with the measured values. The theoretical model shows the reciprocity of the piezoelectric constants.

Several layers of polytetrafluoroethylene and fluoroethylenepropylene films are fused such that small interfacial gas voids are formed between the layers. After proper charging and annealing, the fused multilayer films show large and thermally stable quasistatic piezoelectric d33 coefficients of about 1000pC∕N which are subject to a minor reduction of 3% per day if exposed to 90°C. Depending on sample processing, the piezoelectric coefficient is relatively independent of applied pressure in the range up to 20kPa and of applied frequency up to about 100kHz. Thermally-stimulated discharge measurements indicate that the decay of the piezoelectric activity at higher temperatures is at least partially due to charge drift along the surfaces of the voids. A microphone built with the cellular ferroelectrets has a sensitivity of 3mV∕Pa at 1kHz.

Vibration-based energy harvesters with multi-layer piezoelectrets (ferroelectrets) are presented. Using a simple setup with nine layers and a seismic mass of 8 g, it is possible to generate a power up to 1.3 µW at 140 Hz with an input acceleration of 1g. With better coupling between seismic mass and piezoelectret, and thus reduced damping, the power output of a single-layer system is increased to 5 µW at 700 Hz. Simulations indicate that for such improved setups with 10-layer stacks, utilizing seismic masses of 80 g, power levels of 0.1 to 1 mW can be expected below 100 Hz