Piezoelectric P(VDF-TrFE) transducers assembled with micro injection molded polymers

• A polymer-based accelerometer has been designed, manufactured and characterized.
• The accelerometer has a sensitivity of 0.69 pC/g and a resonance frequency of 735 Hz.
• The presented polymer-based technology approach enables sensor integration.
• Manufacturing particularities were investigated to qualify the approach.

A polymer-based uniaxial accelerometer with piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer (P(VDF-TrFE)) 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 polymer-based compound structures in order to measure low-frequency vibrations. The focus of this contribution is on the design, processing as well as on the characterization of the polySENS accelerometer to determine the sensor properties of the accelerometer due to manufacturing particularities. Additionally, investigations regarding the applied materials and the manufacturing, in particular the mold filling have been done to qualify the novel technological approach.