- for a wide range of applications such as detection of drowsy driving or fatigue, and health monitoring of the elderly.-

Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd (hereinafter called “Sekisui Chemical.” President: Naofumi Negishi) is pleased to announce that the High Performance Plastics Company (President: Keita Kato) of Sekisui Chemical has developed a piezoelectric sensor with multiple features of being highly sensitive, thin, flexible and durable – electrical properties can be maintained -, adopting its original polyolefin foam with super-fine bubbles as one of the materials.

The High Performance Plastics Company will look for more ways to make good use of the sensor for such purposes as monitoring biological signals generated while people are sleeping or driving or peoples’ health with wearable devices equipped with the sensor.

I. Background of the Development

Sekisui Chemical, under its group vision of developing the frontiers of "Creation of Housing/Social Infrastructure" and "Chemical Solutions," provides various plastic products to be used as materials for housing, automobiles and electronics, and in the medical field.

We have also accumulated know-how on polyolefin foam for many years. The polyolefin foam currently provided by us is excellent in thermal insulation, shock absorption, moldability and other properties, which is extensively used as tape substrates and sealing materials for mobile terminals, automotive interior materials, industrial products, housing materials and other things.

Sekisui Chemical has the top share of the highly foaming polyolefin foam market (according to our own estimation), and is promoting the foam overseas, with ten production sites established in the world (Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, the United States (two production sites) and Australia)

II. Overview of the Thin and Highly Sensitive Piezoelectric Sensor

1. Structure / Function

2. Mechanism of the Sensor

3. Original Technology and Specifications

Unlike conventional polyolefin foam, this Sekisui Chemical’s designed polyolefin foam with super-fine bubbles makes it possible to permanently keep electricity around the bubbles and to have high durability – electrical properties can be maintained-. 

(1) Specifications

(2) Standardized size

(3) Design characteristics

(4)　Versatility

4.  Usage Examples

The Sekisui Chemical’s developed piezoelectric sensor can detect even weak pressure on the surface of the body which is generated by hear beats, pulse beats and breathing, because of which, we believe it can be used for monitoring and managing people’s health condition at home or while at the wheel, and as wearable devices.

III. What Sekisui Chemical will Do in the Future

We are looking for business partners who will cooperate with us to find new ways to use the sensor and to make efforts to offer enriched health care.

Samples of the thin, highly sensitive piezoelectric sensor are available. We are scheduled to exhibit the sensor at the Automotive Engineering Exposition to be held at PACIFICO Yokohama from May 21 to 23, 2014.