A piezoelectric composite material is formed from a cellulosic material and an inorganic piezoelectric material dispersed in a piezoelectric polymer. The piezoelectric polymer of the composite material has a dielectric constant of from 10 or more. A method of making a piezoelectric is also disclosed wherein a matrix of a cellulosic material, an inorganic piezoelectric material, and a piezoelectric polymer material is formed. The matrix is formed into a piezoelectric composite body.

A piezoelectric composite material is formed from a cellulosic material and an inorganic piezoelectric material dispersed in a piezoelectric polymer. The piezoelectric polymer of the composite material has a dielectric constant of from 10 or more. A method of making a piezoelectric is also disclosed wherein a matrix of a cellulosic material, an inorganic piezoelectric material, and a piezoelectric polymer material is formed. The matrix is formed into a piezoelectric composite body.

The present invention provides a surface tension assisted film forming method to prepare a flexible, patterned piezoceramic composite for use in a variety of electronics. The present method allows tuning mechanical and piezoelectric properties of the resulting composite by simply adjusting one or few parameters used during the piezoceramic film forming and/or composite forming procedures in the absence of any complex transferring techniques that are commonly used in conventional methods. The present invention also allows customizing patterns (two-dimensional or three-dimensional) on the piezoceramic framework to result in a piezoelectric composite that is able to provide anisotropic piezoelectric responses to different loads whilst still having a constant electrical output over a long-time deformation.

The present invention provides a surface tension assisted film forming method to prepare a flexible, patterned piezoceramic composite for use in a variety of electronics. The present method allows tuning mechanical and piezoelectric properties of the resulting composite by simply adjusting one or few parameters used during the piezoceramic film forming and/or composite forming procedures in the absence of any complex transferring techniques that are commonly used in conventional methods. The present invention also allows customizing patterns (two-dimensional or three-dimensional) on the piezoceramic framework to result in a piezoelectric composite that is able to provide anisotropic piezoelectric responses to different loads whilst still having a constant electrical output over a long-time deformation.

Provided are mechanically adaptive materials that include a composite gel that is responsive to input energy. In some embodiments, input vibrational energy results in strengthening the composite gel. The strengthening may be reversible or irreversible according to various embodiments. In some embodiments, input vibrational energy generates chemical promotors for cross-linking reactions and/or linear polymerization via mechano-chemical transducers. In some embodiments, an applied shear stress is used to control charge generation and generate chemical promoters for cross-linking and/or linear polymerization. In some embodiments, the composite gels include a polymer network and/or polymer network precursors, reactive groups and/or linkers formed by reaction of the reactive groups, and a mechano-chemical transducer. Also provided are methods of mechanically promoted synthesis of polymers and polymer gels.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a plurality of piezoelectric particles and a polymer material comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one photocurable polymer precursor. The at least one photocurable polymer precursor may undergo a reaction in the presence of electromagnetic radiation, optionally undergoing a reaction with the piezoelectric particles, in the course of forming the printed part. The piezoelectric particles may be mixed with the polymer material and remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer material. The compositions may define a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, or an extrudable composite paste, which may be utilized in forming printed parts by extrusion and layer-by-layer deposition, followed by curing.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a plurality of piezoelectric particles and a polymer material comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one photocurable polymer precursor. The at least one photocurable polymer precursor may undergo a reaction in the presence of electromagnetic radiation, optionally undergoing a reaction with the piezoelectric particles, in the course of forming the printed part. The piezoelectric particles may be mixed with the polymer material and remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer material. The compositions may define a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, or an extrudable composite paste, which may be utilized in forming printed parts by extrusion and layer-by-layer deposition, followed by curing.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a polymer matrix comprising a first polymer material and a second polymer material that are immiscible with each other, and a plurality of piezoelectric particles substantially localized in one of the first polymer material or the second polymer material. The piezoelectric particles may remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer matrix. The compositions may define a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, or an extrudable composite paste. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions that are extrudable and comprise a plurality of piezoelectric particles and a plurality of carbon nanomaterials dispersed in at least a portion of a polymer material. The piezoelectric particles may remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer material. The polymer material may comprise at least one thermoplastic polymer, optionally further containing at least one polymer precursor. The compositions may define an extrudable material that is a composite having a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, a composite powder, or a composite paste. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions that are extrudable and comprise a plurality of piezoelectric particles and a plurality of carbon nanomaterials dispersed in at least a portion of a polymer material. The piezoelectric particles may remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer material. The polymer material may comprise at least one thermoplastic polymer, optionally further containing at least one polymer precursor. The compositions may define an extrudable material that is a composite having a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, a composite powder, or a composite paste. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.