MACHINE AND METHOD FOR POLING FILMS OF PYROELECTRIC AND PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIAL

摘要

An apparatus and method for rapidly and continuously poling a film of polymeric material exhibiting at least one of pyroelectric and piezoelectric characteristics to yield a poled film having a high coefficient of at least one of pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties, and a high degree of uniformity of polarization throughout its thickness. The method of the present invention includes applying an electric field greater than 1000 K volts/cm across the film for less than 180 seconds. The apparatus of the present invention includes a drive for advancing the film and a pair of electrodes that establish an electric field across the film. In a first embodiment, a hot poling roller serves as a high voltage electrode and a grounded roller contacts a conductive layer coated on the other side of the film to provide the second electrode. In a second embodiment both electrodes are provided by hot poling rollers with one being connected to a high voltage potential and the other to ground potential. Both embodiments utilize ambient air to cool the film while such pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties exist in the film. A third embodiment is similar to the first except that the hot poling roller of the first embodiment is a cold poling roller and a radiant source heats the film during poling. In all three embodiments the high voltage electrode is separated from direct physical contact with the film by a resistive layer in order to avoid serious damage to the film due to electrical arcing that can occur through a defective or thinner than normal area of the film.