Please consider attending the following: MATERIALS ENGINEERING SEMINAR "On the Continuous Production of Electric-Field Structured Piezoelectric Composite Films as Ultrasonic Transducers" By Jesse C. Grant Purdue MSE Preliminary Exam Advisor: Professor Mukerrem Cakmak ABSTRACT Piezoelectric materials enjoy a broad set of applications as transducers by converting mechanical energy to electrical energy. While piezoceramics are inherently brittle and opaque, thermosetting polymers can be mechanically tough, flexible, and transparent. Properties of both can be preserved in an anisotropic composite, where piezoelectric particles are aligned into chain-like structures running through the thickness of the material, termed a quasi-1-3 composite. This is achieved through electric-field structuring, a facile process that decreases the amount of filler material required via anisotropy, is scalable, and is compatible with continuous production. Improving the performance of composite material relies on tuning processing conditions due to the structure-property relationship and material properties of the constituents. In taking a wholistic approach to fabricating ultrasonic transducers in a roll-to-roll manner, benefits are promised for applications such as medical imaging, structural health monitoring, and hydrophones. Keywords: piezoelectricity, anisotropy, quasi-1-3 composite, electric-field structuring, ultrasonic transducer Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 Time: 1:00 P. M. Place: HAMP 2118