Electromechanical Characterization and Experimental Sensor Modeling of Thermoformed FEP Piezoelectrets for Dynamic Force Environments
This study explores the design, fabrication, and electromechanical characterisation of thermoformed tubular Teflon piezoelectrets for force measurement applications. Piezoelectrets, a subclass of electrets, leverage engineered dipole configurations within charged internal cavities to exhibit piezoelectric properties. Using fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) films, tubular structures were fabricated through thermal lamination and subsequently polarised to form highly sensitive and flexible piezoelectrets. The electrical response was characterised by controlled impact tests, sinusoidal stationary force inputs using a shaker system and an instrumented insole to evaluate the piezoelectret in a real dinamic environment. The impact test revealed that the piezoelectret exhibits a rapid response time of 20 ms with a maximum voltage amplitude of ±3 V. The frequency-domain analysis identified primary and secondary band-pass ranges, with peak sensitivity observed at 400 Hz. The stationary test with a shaker showed a steady sensitivity of 53.87 mV/N for signals within the 200 Hz and 700 Hz bandwidth.
Authors
- Miguel Velhote Correia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6065-9358)
- Márcio Luís Munhoz Amorim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6548-7898)
- Álvaro Antônio Alencar de Queiroz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1769-7022)
- Melkzedekue de Moraes Alcântara Calabrese Moreira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9162-2531)
- João Carmo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7955-7503)
- Gabriel Augusto Ginja (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1021-0701)
- Adriano A. G. Siqueira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0663-156X)
- Ruy Alberto Pisani Altafim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6776-9824)
- Ruy Alberto Corrêa Altafim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2248-9305)
- Volnei Tita (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8199-1162)
- M Neto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6524-966X)
Institutions
- Universidade Federal da Paraíba (BR)
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos (BR)
- Universidade do Porto (PT)
- Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science (MD)
- INESC TEC (PT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- IEEE Sensors Journal
- Published
- 2025-06-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1109/jsen.2025.3581027
- Primary Topic
- Smart Materials for Construction
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico