A versatile electroactive sensor cable

The author describes an alternative form of electroactive PVdF. Vibetek 20 is a piezoelectric PVdF coaxial cable which is thick-walled yet extremely flexible. It can be manufactured in long lengths by a continuous process and a brief description of the manufacturing process is given. The cable is highly active, having a hydrostatic voltage coefficient of 130 mV.mN^-1, in marked contrast to PZT5A ceramic for example which is 60 times lower. Other piezoelectric and physical properties are presented including its performance under a variety of environmental conditions; for example the cable can withstand pressures up to 2000 psi without degradation of its piezoelectric characteristics. Finally, the remarkable versatility of the cable is exemplified by brief descriptions of some applications, notably in the fields of impact sensing and underwater acoustics