Pneumatic pressure sensing with PVDF Film

A new low-cost piezoelectric polymer Polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) Pressure sensor has been developed. A piezoelectric polyvinylideneflouride (PVDF) film is used in this sensor as the sensing element. The piezoelectric film generates electric potential when pressure is applied on it. The experimental setup for single layer PVDF is designed. The voltage developed across the sensor is measured using NI (National Instruments) data acquisition system. The amount of generated voltage is directly proportional to applied pressure. The voltage generated in the PVDF film is determined experimentally. The piezoelectric coupled field of PVDF film is modelled in ANSYS to determine voltage analytically. The results of both the experimental and FEM analysis are comparable with in permissible limits. Three different thickness of the silver and gold coated PVDF films are considered.