Passive Shock Position Sensing Using Additively Manufacturable Piezoelectric Grids

Piezoelectric materials generate an electric charge when subjected to mechanical stress. Piezoelectric polymers such as Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) have been used for decades to capture shock front position in inert and energetic materials. In this work, we present a new technique for capturing the piezoelectric response of the ceramic crystal lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) using the electrically conductive polymer Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate. These formulations are shown to be additively manufacturable into custom 2D profiles and, when structured strategically, can be used as passive shock position sensors requiring no external power supply. Formulation development and preliminary Kolsky bar testing of periodically ordered grid patterns will be presented.