Piezoeletric properties of nanocomposites of TPU with

electrospun BaTiO3 nanofibers.

L. F. R. M.Carvalhoa, G.J.F.Melloa, J.A.Eirasb, A.M.Gonalves band R.E.S.Bretasa
a

Department of Materials Engineering, UFSCar, Rod. Washington Luiz, km 235, 13565-905 So Carlos, SP, Brazil.
b.
Department of Physics, UFSCar, Rod. Washington Luiz, km 235, 13565-905 So Carlos, SP, Brazil.

Nanocomposites of thermoplastic poly (urethane)(TPU) with electrospun BaTiO 3 nanofibers were

produced by solvent casting. The BaTiO 3 nanofibers were produced by eletrospinning a mixture of a solution
of the precursors Ba (CH3COO)2 and [(CH3)2CHO]4 Ti in acetic acid and a solution of
poly(vinlypyrrolidone) in ethanol; the as-collected nanofibers were subsequently sintered at 750 oC. The

TPU was from Eastman Chem.Co (grade TS8005), based on an hydroxylated polyester from adipic
acid, 1,4 butanediol and monoethyleneglycol and methyldiisocyanate. The morphology,
crystallographic structure and piezoelectric properties of the nanofibers were analyzed by scanning
electron microscopy (SEM), wide angle x-ray (WAXS), impedance spectroscopy and piezoresponse
Force Microscopy (PFM) , respectively. The thermal properties and domain morphology of the TPU
was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and atomic force microscopy (AFM),
respectively. The nanocomposites were prepared by dissolving the TPU in dimethylformamide,
using several weight % of BaTiO3 nanofibers. The piezoelectric properties of the nanocomposites
were measured by a Ressonance Method and it showed a potential of use of these materials as
piezoelectric sensors.
Keywords: Nanocomposites, piezoelectricity, TPU, BaTiO3.