High pressure applications of ferroelectric polymers

Ferroelectric polymers are the most recent class piezoelectric and pyroelectric materials developed. The most common piezoelectric polymers are PVDF, based on the monomer CH/sub 2/-CF/sub 2/ and copolymers PVDF with C/sub 2/F/sub 3/H. Under high hydrostatic pressure, piezoelectric polymers exhibit well defined piezoelectric response. Piezoelectric response of shock compressed PVDF film prepared with attention to mechanical and electrical processing exhibits precise, well defined reproducible behavior to 35 GPa. P(VDF-TrFE) copolymers exhibit unique piezoelectric properties over a wide range of temperature depending on the compositions. Under high shock pressure loading, unique piezoelectric response is also observed. In particular, first record of detonation profile is presented. These polymers have the potential for new shock wave sensors with unique characteristics.