Nanotribology of polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) in the presence of electric field

Hyungoo Lee; Bharat Bhushan

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2011.04.087

Nanotribology of polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) in the presence of electric field

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2011 Aug 15;360(2):777-84. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2011.04.087. Epub 2011 Apr 29.

Authors

Hyungoo Lee¹, Bharat Bhushan

Affiliation

¹ Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio- & Nanotechnology and Biomimetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.

PMID: 21571291
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2011.04.087

Abstract

Polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) is one of the most widely used piezoelectric materials in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS) due to its excellent properties. Its applications range from biological to electric devices, such as an artificial hip joint, a microgripper, and a force sensor. It is critical to understand friction, adhesion, and wear mechanisms of this material. In this study, effect of piezoelectricity and lubricant with electric field on tribological properties was investigated, using poled and unpoled PVDF. To understand the tribological properties at nano- and macroscales, scale effect was also studied using an AFM and a tribometer. Relevant mechanisms are discussed.