Piezoelectric accelerometer based on micro injection molded polymers

Abstract

A polymer-based uniaxial accelerometer with piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) copolymer transducers and micro injection molded polypropylene (PP) structures has been designed, manufactured and characterized. The mass-loaded cantilever structure shows a quasi-static charge sensitivity of 0.69 pC/g and a resonance frequency of 735 Hz. Because of its efficient processing and its small dimensions the polymer-based sensor (polySENS) can be integrated into fiber-reinforced polymer structures in order to measure low-frequency vibrations. The focus of this contribution is on the design as well as on the characterization of the polySENS to determine the sensor properties of the accelerometer due to manufacturing particularities.