Cellular polyethylene-naphthalate films for ferroelectret applications

Cellular polymer films are frequently employed for packaging, insulation, and printing. They can also be used as ferroelectrets in transducer applications. Here, we propose a preparation process for cellular polyethylene-naphthalate (PEN) films with the following steps: (1) foaming by means of supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2), (2) controlled inflation through gas diffusion and expansion, and (3) biaxial stretching. We describe and assess the cellular structure that is formed under suitable processing conditions. For foaming, the PEN films are saturated with supercritical CO2 at room temperature for a few hours, at a pressure as high as 100 bar. The subsequent temperature treatment is very critical for controlling the sample density. Additional inflation can improve the cellular geometry and higher stabilization temperatures during the inflation process cause stronger inflation and thus lower densities. Stretching may be employed in order to achieve a regular cellular structure with lens-like voids. High electromechanical responses, i.e. large piezoelectric thickness coefficients are found only on samples within the proper density range and with optimal cellular structures.