To realize a new polymer sensor fabricated from a piezoelectric chiral polymer fiber, we attempted to detect the response signal induced by the shear piezoelectricity of the chiral polymer poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) under the application of stress and strain, and we confirmed that the piezoelectric response signal was sufficiently large for use as a sensor signal. We then prepared a left-hand helical torsion coil (PLLA fiber left-hand coil), which was formed by drawing a PLLA fiber ten times. It was observed that, when twisted and released suddenly, the coil exhibited a torsion vibration, and we confirmed that the piezoelectric response signal followed the torsion vibration. Next, we prepared a system in which a PLLA fiber coil was linked to a personal computer used for simple image processing. The PLLA fiber left- and right-hand coils were placed on the arm of a subject, and the inward rotation and outward rotation of the forearm and upper arm were measured. Finally, using this system, we were able to visualize the rotation of the forearm and upper arm.
Through three-dimensional (3D) printing, we attempted to fabricate 3D solid objects with piezoelectricity. By optimizing the conditions of 3D printing, we realized the fabrication of a piezoelectric object by 3D printing. In fact, we could produce a poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) object similar to a smart phone case fabricated by 3D printing, the molded body of which has button sensors at the desired sites by exploiting the piezoelectric properties of PLLA. Finally, we confirmed that the PLLA object behaved as a fully functional sensor.
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