@article{AltafimRychkovWirgesetal.2012, author = {Altafim, Ruy Alberto Pisani and Rychkov, Dmitry and Wirges, Werner and Gerhard, Reimund and Basso, Heitor Cury and Altafim, Ruy Alberto Pisani and Melzer, Martin}, title = {Laminated tubular-channel ferroelectret systems from low-density Polyethylene Films and from Fluoroethylene-propylene Copolymer Films - A comparison}, series = {IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation}, volume = {19}, journal = {IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation}, number = {4}, publisher = {Inst. of Electr. and Electronics Engineers}, address = {Piscataway}, issn = {1070-9878}, pages = {1116 -- 1123}, year = {2012}, abstract = {A template-based lamination technique for the manufacture of ferroelectrets from uniform electret films was recently reported. In the present work, this technique is used to prepare similar ferroelectret structures from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films and from fluoro-ethylene-propylene (FEP) copolymer films. A comparative analysis of the pressure-, temperature-, and frequency-dependent piezoelectric properties has been performed on the two ferroelectret systems. It is observed that the FEP ferroelectrets exhibit better piezoelectric responses and are thermally more stable. The difference between the piezoelectric d(33) coefficients of the two ferroelectret systems is partially explained here by their different elastic moduli. The anti-resonance peaks of both structures have been investigated by means of dielectric resonance spectroscopy and electroacoustic sound-pressure measurements. A difference of more than 10 kHz is observed between the anti-resonance frequencies of the two ferroelectret systems.}, language = {en} } @article{AssagraAltafimdoCarmoetal.2020, author = {Assagra, Yuri A.O. and Altafim, Ruy Alberto Pisani and do Carmo, Joao P. and Altafim, Ruy A.C. and Rychkov, Dmitry and Wirges, Werner and Gerhard, Reimund}, title = {A new route to piezo-polymer transducers: 3D printing of polypropylene ferroelectrets}, series = {IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation}, volume = {27}, journal = {IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation}, number = {5}, publisher = {Inst. of Electr. and Electronics Engineers}, address = {Piscataway}, issn = {1070-9878}, doi = {10.1109/TDEI.2020.008461}, pages = {1668 -- 1674}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Here, a promising approach for producing piezo-polymer transducers in a one-step process is presented. Using 3D-printing technology and polypropylene (PP) filaments, we are able to print a two-layered film structure with regular cavities of precisely controlled size and shape. It is found that the 3D-printed samples exhibit piezoelectric coefficients up to 200 pC/N, similar to those of other PP ferroelectrets, and their temporal and thermal behavior is in good agreement with those known of PP ferroelectrets. The piezoelectric response strongly decreases for applied pressures above 20 kPa, as the pressure in the air-filled cavities strongly influences the overall elastic modulus of ferroelectrets.}, language = {en} } @misc{CheilakouTsopelasAnastasopoulosetal.2018, author = {Cheilakou, E. and Tsopelas, N. and Anastasopoulos, A. and Kourousis, D. and Rychkov, Dmitry and Gerhard, Reimund and Frankenstein, B. and Amditis, A. and Damigos, Y. and Bouklas, C.}, title = {Strain monitoring system for steel and concrete structures}, series = {Procedia Structural Integrity}, volume = {10}, journal = {Procedia Structural Integrity}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {2452-3216}, doi = {10.1016/j.prostr.2018.09.005}, pages = {25 -- 32}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The present work is part of a collaborative H2020 European funded research project called SENSKIN, that aims to improve Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) for transport infrastructure through the development of an innovative monitoring and management system for bridges based on a novel, inexpensive, skin-like sensor. The integrated SENSKIN technology will be implemented in the case of steel and concrete bridges, and tested, field-evaluated and benchmarked on actual bridge environment against a conventional health monitoring solution developed by Mistras Group Hellas. The main objective of the present work is to implement the autonomous, fully functional strain monitoring system based on commercially available off-the-shelf components, that will be used to accomplish direct comparison between the performance of the innovative SENSKIN sensors and the conventional strain sensors commonly used for structural monitoring of bridges. For this purpose, the mini Structural Monitoring System (mini SMS) of Physical Acoustics Corporation, a comprehensive data acquisition unit designed specifically for long-term unattended operation in outdoor environments, was selected. For the completion of the conventional system, appropriate foil-type strain sensors were selected, driven by special conditioners manufactured by Mistras Group. A comprehensive description of the strain monitoring system and its peripheral components is provided in this paper. For the evaluation of the integrated system's performance and the effect of various parameters on the long-term behavior of sensors, several test steel pieces instrumented with different strain sensors configurations were prepared and tested in both laboratory and field ambient conditions. Furthermore, loading tests were performed aiming to validate the response of the system in monitoring the strains developed in steel beam elements subject to bending regimes. Representative results obtained from the above experimental tests have been included in this paper as well.}, language = {en} } @misc{LouposDamigosAmditisetal.2017, author = {Loupos, Konstantinos and Damigos, Yannis and Amditis, Angelos and Gerhard, Reimund and Rychkov, Dmitry and Wirges, Werner and Schulze, Manuel and Lenas, Sotiris-Angelos and Chatziandreoglou, Christos and Malliou, Christina and Tsaoussidis, Vassilis and Brady, Ken and Frankenstein, Bernd}, title = {Structural health monitoring system for bridges based on skin-like sensor}, series = {IOP conference series : Materials science and engineering}, volume = {236}, journal = {IOP conference series : Materials science and engineering}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {1757-8981}, doi = {10.1088/1757-899X/236/1/012100}, pages = {10}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Structural health monitoring activities are of primal importance for managing transport infrastructure, however most SHM methodologies are based on point-based sensors that have limitations in terms of their spatial positioning requirements, cost of development and measurement range. This paper describes the progress on the SENSKIN EC project whose objective is to develop a dielectric-elastomer and micro-electronics-based sensor, formed from a large highly extensible capacitance sensing membrane supported by advanced microelectronic circuitry, for monitoring transport infrastructure bridges. Such a sensor could provide spatial measurements of strain in excess of 10\%. The actual sensor along with the data acquisition module, the communication module and power electronics are all integrated into a compact unit, the SENSKIN device, which is energy-efficient, requires simple signal processing and it is easy to install over various surface types. In terms of communication, SENSKIN devices interact with each other to form the SENSKIN system; a fully distributed and autonomous wireless sensor network that is able to self-monitor. SENSKIN system utilizes Delay-/Disruption-Tolerant Networking technologies to ensure that the strain measurements will be received by the base station even under extreme conditions where normal communications are disrupted. This paper describes the architecture of the SENSKIN system and the development and testing of the first SENSKIN prototype sensor, the data acquisition system, and the communication system.}, language = {en} } @misc{LouposDamigosTsertouetal.2019, author = {Loupos, Konstantinos and Damigos, Yannis and Tsertou, Athanasisa and Amditis, Angelos and Lenas, Sotiris-Angelos and Chatziandreoglou, Chistos and Malliou, Christina and Tsaoussidis, Vassilis and Gerhard, Reimund and Rychkov, Dmitry and Wirges, Werner and Frankenstein, Bernd and Camarinopoulos, Stephanos and Kalidromitis, Vassilis and Sanna, C. and Maier, Stephanos and Gordt, A. and Panetsos, P.}, title = {Innovative soft-material sensor, wireless network and assessment software for bridge life-cycle assessment}, series = {Life-cycle analysis and assessmanet in civil engineering : towards an integrated vision}, journal = {Life-cycle analysis and assessmanet in civil engineering : towards an integrated vision}, publisher = {CRC Press, Taylor \& Francis Group}, address = {Boca Raton}, isbn = {978-1-315-22891-4}, pages = {2085 -- 2092}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Nowadays, structural health monitoring of critical infrastructures is considered as of primal importance especially for managing transport infrastructure however most current SHM methodologies are based on point-sensors that show various limitations relating to their spatial positioning capabilities, cost of development and measurement range. This publication describes the progress in the SENSKIN EC co-funded research project that is developing a dielectric-elastomer sensor, formed from a large highly extensible capacitance sensing membrane and is supported by an advanced micro-electronic circuitry, for monitoring transport infrastructure bridges. The sensor under development provides spatial measurements of strain in excess of 10\%, while the sensing system is being designed to be easy to install, require low power in operation concepts, require simple signal processing, and have the ability to self-monitor and report. An appropriate wireless sensor network is also being designed and developed supported by local gateways for the required data collection and exploitation. SENSKIN also develops a Decision-Support-System (DSS) for proactive condition-based structural interventions under normal operating conditions and reactive emergency intervention following an extreme event. The latter is supported by a life-cycle-costing (LCC) and life-cycle-assessment (LCA) module responsible for the total internal and external costs for the identified bridge rehabilitation, analysis of options, yielding figures for the assessment of the economic implications of the bridge rehabilitation work and the environmental impacts of the bridge rehabilitation options and of the associated secondary effects respectively. The overall monitoring system will be evaluated and benchmarked on actual bridges of Egnatia Highway (Greece) and Bosporus Bridge (Turkey).}, language = {en} } @article{McCarthyStoyanovRychkovetal.2012, author = {McCarthy, Denis N. and Stoyanov, Hristiyan and Rychkov, Dmitry and Ragusch, Huelya and Melzer, Michael and Kofod, Guggi}, title = {Increased permittivity nanocomposite dielectrics by controlled interfacial interactions}, series = {Composites science and technology}, volume = {72}, journal = {Composites science and technology}, number = {6}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0266-3538}, doi = {10.1016/j.compscitech.2012.01.026}, pages = {731 -- 736}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The use of nanoparticles in polymer composite dielectrics has promised great improvements, but useful results have been elusive. Here, the importance of the interfacial interactions between the nanoparticles and the polymer matrix are investigated in TiO2 nanocomposites for dielectric materials using surface functionalisation. The interface is observed to dominate the nanocomposite properties and leads to a threefold increase in permittivity at volume fractions as low as 10\%. Surface functionalisation of the filler nanoparticles with silanes allows control of this interface, avoiding significant degradation of the other important material properties, particularly electrical breakdown strength, and resulting in a material that is demonstrated successfully as an active material in a dielectric elastomer actuator application with increased work output compared to the pure polymer. Although further permittivity increases are observed when the interface regions have formed a percolation network, the other material properties deteriorate. The observation of percolation behaviour allows the interface thickness to be estimated.}, language = {en} } @misc{NguyenWangRychkovetal.2019, author = {Nguyen, Quyet Doan and Wang, Jingwen and Rychkov, Dmitry and Gerhard, Reimund}, title = {Depth Profile and Transport of Positive and Negative Charge in Surface (2-D) and Bulk (3-D) Nanocomposite Films}, series = {2nd International Conference on Electrical Materials and Power Equipment (ICEMPE 2019)}, journal = {2nd International Conference on Electrical Materials and Power Equipment (ICEMPE 2019)}, publisher = {IEEE}, address = {New York}, isbn = {978-1-5386-8434-4}, doi = {10.1109/ICEMPE.2019.8727256}, pages = {298 -- 300}, year = {2019}, abstract = {In the present study, the charge distribution and the charge transport across the thickness of 2- and 3-dimensional polymer nanodielectrics was investigated. Chemically surface-treated polypropylene (PP) films and low-density polyethylene nanocomposite films with 3 wt \% of magnesium oxide (LDPE/MgO) served as examples of 2-D and 3-D nanodielectrics, respectively. Surface charges were deposited onto the non-metallized surfaces of the one-side metallized polymer films and found to broaden and to thus enter the bulk of the films upon thermal stimulation at suitable elevated temperatures. The resulting space-charge profiles in the thickness direction were probed by means of Piezoelectrically-generated Pressure Steps (PPSs). It was observed that the chemical surface treatment of PP which led to the formation of nano-structures or the use of bulk nanoparticles from LDPE/MgO nanocomposites enhance charge trapping on or in the respective polymer films and also reduce charge transport inside the respective samples.}, language = {en} } @misc{RychkovStojharovKuznetsovetal.2018, author = {Rychkov, Andrey and Stojharov, Valery and Kuznetsov, Alexey and Rychkov, Dmitry}, title = {The influence of recrystallization regimes on electret charge stability in low-density polyethylene films}, series = {2018 IEEE 2nd International Conference on Dielectrics (ICD)}, journal = {2018 IEEE 2nd International Conference on Dielectrics (ICD)}, publisher = {IEEE}, address = {New York}, isbn = {978-1-5386-6389-9}, doi = {10.1109/ICD.2018.8514638}, pages = {4}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The electret state stability in nonpolar semicrystalline polymers is largely determined by the traps located at crystalline/ amorphous phase interfaces. Thus, the thermal history of such polymers should considerably influence their electret properties. In the present work, we investigate how recrystallization influences charge stability in low-density polyethylene corona electrets. It has been found that electret charge stability in quenched samples is higher than in slowly-crystallized ones. Phenomenologicaly, this can be explained by the increased number of deeper traps in samples with smaller crystallite size.}, language = {en} } @article{RychkovAltafim2018, author = {Rychkov, Dmitry and Altafim, Ruy Alberto Pisani}, title = {Template-based fluoroethylenepropylene ferroelectrets with enhanced thermal stability of piezoelectricity}, series = {Journal of applied physics}, volume = {124}, journal = {Journal of applied physics}, number = {17}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0021-8979}, doi = {10.1063/1.5041374}, pages = {5}, year = {2018}, abstract = {In ferroelectrets, the piezoelectricity stems from the charges of both polarities trapped on the inner surfaces of the cavities in the material, so that its thermal stability is defined by the stability of the respective charges. In the present work, a template-based lamination technique has been employed to fabricate tubular-channel ferroelectrets from fluoroethylenepropylene (FEP) films. It has been shown that the piezoelectricity in FEP ferroelectrets decays at relatively low temperatures due to the inherently lower thermal stability of the positive charge. In order to improve charge trapping, we have treated both FEP films and inner surfaces of the ferroelectret cavities with titanium-tetrachloride vapor, using the atomic-layer-deposition technique. Using surface-potential-decay measurements on FEP films, we have found that the charge-decay curves shift by more than 100 degrees C to the higher temperatures as a result of the surface treatment. Direct measurements of piezoelectric d(33) coefficients as a function of temperature have shown that the piezoelectric stability is likewise improved with the d(33)-decay curves shifted by 60 degrees C to the right. The improvement of electret/ferroelectret properties can be attributed to the formation of the deeper traps on the chemically modified FEP surface. SEM micrographs and EDS analysis reveal island-like structures with titanium- and oxygen-containing species that can be responsible for the deeper trapping of the electret charges. Published by AIP Publishing.}, language = {en} } @article{RychkovAltafimQiuetal.2012, author = {Rychkov, Dmitry and Altafim, Ruy Alberto Pisani and Qiu, Xunlin and Gerhard, Reimund}, title = {Treatment with orthophosphoric acid enhances the thermal stability of the piezoelectricity in low-density polyethylene ferroelectrets}, series = {Journal of applied physics}, volume = {111}, journal = {Journal of applied physics}, number = {12}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0021-8979}, doi = {10.1063/1.4729866}, pages = {5}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Ferroelectrets have been fabricated from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films by means of a template-based lamination. The temperature dependence of the piezoelectric d(33) coefficient has been investigated. It was found that low-density polyethylene ferroelectrets have rather low thermal stability with the piezoelectric coefficient decaying almost to zero already at 100 degrees C. This behavior is attributed to the poor electret properties of the polyethylene films used for the fabrication of the ferroelectrets. In order to improve the charge trapping and the thermal stability of electret charge and piezoelectricity, LDPE ferroelectrets were treated with orthophosphoric acid. The treatment resulted in considerable improvements of the charge stability in LDPE films and in ferroelectret systems made from them. For example, the charge and piezoelectric-coefficient decay curves shifted to higher temperatures by 60 K and 40 K, respectively. It is shown that the decay of the piezoelectric coefficient in LDPE ferroelectrets is governed by the relaxation of less stable positive charges. The treatment also leads to noticeable changes in the chemical composition of the LDPE surface. Infrared spectroscopy reveals absorption bands attributed to phosphorus-containing structures, while scanning electron microscopy shows new island-like structures, 50-200 nm in diameter, on the modified surface.}, language = {en} }