Poling Facility

The Poling Facility is used to activate the piezoelectric response of PVDF piezopolymer films by applying a high electric field at controlled temperature. Both corona and contact poling configurations are available, actuation performance of the specimens is experimentally tested.

  • Corona poling (needle electrode) and contact poling (copper electrodes) setups
  • High-voltage supply (0–10 kV) for electric-field poling
  • Temperature-controlled poling (60–80 °C)
  • Silicon oil bath for electrical insulation during high-voltage application
  • Characterization of poled elements as actuators
Corona poling setup with high-voltage supply, oscilloscope, temperature controller, hot plate and needle electrode

Corona poling

  • Needle electrode above the specimen
  • High-voltage supply (0–10 kV)
  • Hot plate with temperature controller (60–80 °C)
Contact poling experimental setup with copper electrodes

Contact poling

  • Copper electrodes in direct contact with the film
  • Silicon oil bath for electrical insulation
  • In-situ poling of PVDF films with printed electrodes
  • Heated, high-voltage-controlled environment
Laser Doppler vibrometer setup for actuator characterization of poled piezopolymer specimens

Characterization of poled elements

  • Actuator performance via laser Doppler vibrometry
  • Comparison of poled and non-poled specimens

Reference: Stratiotou Efstratiadis et al., Additively manufactured multi-material piezopolymer structures for actuation and sensing, CIRP Annals, 2026. doi:10.1016/j.cirp.2026.04.011

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