Investigation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for planar and quasiplanar sensing applications

Justin Neubauer; Kwang Jin Kim

doi:10.1117/12.2610982

18 April 2022 Investigation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for planar and quasiplanar sensing applications

Justin Neubauer, Kwang Jin Kim

Proceedings Volume PC12042, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXIV; PC120420D (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2610982
Event: SPIE Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation, 2022, Long Beach, California, United States

Abstract

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gels have been shown to exhibit mechanoelectrical transduction under varying mechanical inputs. These inexpensive gels can easily be fabricated into planar sections with differing amounts of plasticizer. The plasticizer content within the gel samples can be tuned for optimal mechanoelectrical transduction under expected force inputs. More plasticizer content results in more sensitive gels with lower mechanoelectrical saturation levels, less plasticizer is more ideal for higher expected force inputs. Higher plasticizer content has shown these gels to be very sensitive, providing mechanoelectrical transduction under sub-gram force compressive inputs. By using segmented electrodes these gels can sense both location and magnitude of incoming forces in planar and quasiplanar applications. Different orientations of electrodes are investigated for varying purposes. A square planar sensor with a 3x3 grid of square electrodes is investigated and resolution of this planar sensor is tested with varying force magnitudes and locations. Raw mechanoelectrical responses are shown and a simple application is displayed with some integrated electronics for data acquisition and processing. Some limited work in quasiplanar orientations is also investigated on curved and angled surfaces. This work also provides some insight to the mechanics of mechanoelectrical transduction within PVC gels. The mechanoelectrical transduction has been found to be a surface property, however this study examines the area of contribution to the overall mechanoelectrical transduction. Further experimentation aims to broaden the applications of these sensors.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Justin Neubauer and Kwang Jin Kim "Investigation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for planar and quasiplanar sensing applications", Proc. SPIE PC12042, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXIV, PC120420D (18 April 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2610982

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