Piezoelectric 0-0-3 Composites

• Applicants: Professorin Dr. Laura De Lorenzis; Professor Dr.-Ing. Michael Sinapius
• Subject Area: Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials ; Lightweight Construction, Textile Technology
• Term: from 2017 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 389409970

The long term vision for Structural Health Monitoring is a self-sustaining operation. In principle the sensors may be used for energy harvesting, but the adjacent composite structure may be used as well. The energy can by accumulated in the structure beyond the operation cycle of the SHM-system. This is the starting point for the proposal. The aim is to investigate energy converting mechanisms capable of being integrated into the structural surface with respect to an autarkic operation. The focus of the project lies in the investigation of piezoelectric resins being able to convert mechanical into electric energy within polymer composite structures. The proposers will build a test facility for the determination of the most relevant piezoelectric parameter like permittivity, load constant, coupling factor. The dispersion of piezoceramic particles and additives elevating the permittivity, e.g. carbon modifications, into the resin will be investigated. Coupons of piezo-composites consisting of particles and sputtered electrodes will be manufactured. In particular alternatives to lead-based ceramics like KNN will be considered. In a second step the integration of the highly viscous resins systems in polymer fiber composites will be developed. Methods of Resin Film Infusion (RFI) are very auspicious candidate methods. The most challenging task of the research work will then be how to integrate the electrodes into the composite structure. A comprehensive understanding of piezo-electric polymer composites composed of piezoelectric powder and thermoset resin will be achieved by multi-scale modelling. A validated multi-scale modelling framework is pursued to quantitatively predict the electromechanical behaviour of the particle-filled resin, especially the relationship between amount of particles and electromechanical properties.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Switzerland
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr.-Ing. Peter Wierach