MAME, Univ. of Windsor, Dr. X.

Nie

Ceramic Materials
06-89-420 Chapter 8b: Piezoelectric Ceramics By Xueyuan Nie, Ph.D.
Professor Dept. of Mechanical, Materials & Automotive Engineering University of Windsor Windsor, Ontario Canada N9B 3P4 Tel: 519-253-3000 (x4148) e-mail: xnie@uwindsor.ca
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Chapter 8b: Piezoelectric Ceramics

8.7 Piezoelectric Materials

Perhaps the most interesting thing about quartz is that it is piezoelectric. That means if you squeeze a quartz crystal, it generates a tiny electric current. The opposite is also true: if you pass electricity through quartz, it vibrates at a precise frequency (it shakes about an exact number of times each second).

1. Battery. 2. Electric stepping motor. 3. Microchip. 4. Circuit connects microchip to other components. 5. Quartz crystal oscillator. 6. Crown screw for setting time. 7. Gears turn hour, minute, and second hands at different speeds. 8. Tiny central shaft holds hands in place.

Chapter 8b: Piezoelectric Ceramics

8.7 Piezoelectric Materials
8.7.1 Electromechanical Coupling in Piezoelectric materials An electric dipole can be visualized by imaging a positive and negative charges separated by a distance with a pin in the center. Under electric field, attractions between opposite charges occur resulting in rotation of the dipole. If we think of the dipole as being attached to the surrounding material, this rotation will produce strain in the surrounding structure. Similarly, if a mechanical strain is applied to the material, one can envision that the dipole in the crystal will rotate. The motion of charge in the unit cell structure will produce an apparent charge flow which can measured at the face of the material. Electrodes placed at the material faces will measure a charge flow, or current, due to the rotation of electric dipoles.

_ + _ _ _ _+ +

Fig - . Electric dipoles that lead to electromechanical coupling in piezoelectric materials

Chapter 8b: Piezoelectric Ceramics

8.7 Piezoelectric Materials
8.7.2 Manufacturing of Piezoelectric materials. The manufacture of synthetic piezoelectric materials typically begins with the constituent materials in powder form. A typical mixture of materials that exhibit piezoelectric properties are lead (Pb), zirconium (Zr), and titanium (Ti), referred to as PZT. Other types are barium titinate and sodium-potassium niobates. The processing typically begins by heating the powders to temperatures in the range 1200 to 1500 oC. The heated materials are then formed and dimensioned with conventional methods such as grinding or abrasive media. The result of this process is generally a wafer of dimensions on the order of a few centimeters on two sides and thickness in the range 100 to 300 microns. Electrodes are placed on the wafers by painting a thin silver paint onto the surface. The resulting wafer can be cut with a diamond saw or joined with other layers to produce a multilayer device. The orientation of the individual electric dipoles in a piezoelectric material must be aligned for the material to exhibit strong electromechanical coupling, a process Poling. Poling requires that the piezoelectric material be heated up above its Curie temperature and then placed in a strong electric field (typically, 2000 V/mm). Heating allows the dipoles to rotate freely, since it becomes softer. The electric field produces an alignment of dipoles along the direction of the electric field. Quickly reducing the temperature and removing the electric field produces a material whose electric dipoles are oriented in the same direction, referred as a poling direction of the material. Basic properties: relationship between stress-strain, and electric field and electric displacement.
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Chapter 8b: Piezoelectric Ceramics

8.7 Piezoelectric Materials
8.7.2 Manufacturing of Piezoelectric materials. The orientation of the individual electric dipoles in a piezoelectric material must be aligned for the material to exhibit strong electromechanical coupling, a process Poling. Poling requires that the piezoelectric material be heated up above its Curie temperature and then placed in a strong electric field (typically, 2000 V/mm). Heating allows the dipoles to rotate freely, since it becomes softer. The electric field produces an alignment of dipoles along the direction of the electric field. Quickly reducing the temperature and removing the electric field produces a material whose electric dipoles are oriented in the same direction, referred as a poling direction of the material.

+ + + +_

Applied field (2000 v/mm)

Material is heated above its Curie T

----

+ +

Fig. - Poling process associated with piezoelectric materials

Basic properties: relationship between stress-strain, and electric field and electric displacement.

Chapter 8b: Piezoelectric Ceramics

8.7 Piezoelectric Materials
Piezoelectric materials are used widely in transducers such as ultrasonic transmitters and receivers, sonar for underwater applications, and as actuators for precision positioning devices, fuel injector, etc. 8.7.3 Electromechanical coupling in piezoelectric devices: one-dimensional model exhibit electromechanical coupling, - useful for design of devices for sensing and actuation. Mechanical stress -> electrical displacement (called direct pieoelectric effect) electric field -> mechanical strain (called converse pieoelectric effect) Also thermomechanical coupling called pyroelectric effect. 8.7.3.1 Direct piezoelectric Effect The stress-strain (T-S) relationship in the linear region is T = YS, or S = (1/Y)T = sT, (8.16)

where s = 1/Y, called mechincal compliance (m2/N).

Chapter 8b: Piezoelectric Ceramics

8.7 Piezoelectric Materials
8.7.3.1 Direct piezoelectric Effect Under an applied stress, in addition to elongating like an elastic material, a piezoelectric material will produce a charge flow at electrodes placed the two-ends of the specimen. This charge flow is caused by the motion of electric dipoles within the material. The charge produced divided by the area of the electrodes is the electric displacement, D, which has units of C/m2. Higher stress produces an increase in the rotation of the electric dipoles and thus the electric displacement. The slope of the curve (linear part), d, is called piezoelectric strain coefficient. Under the stress, T, D=dT (8.17)

Fig. - Relationship between stress and electric displacement in a piezoelectric material

Chapter 8b: Piezoelectric Ceramics

8.7 Piezoelectric Materials
8.7.3.2 Converse Effect A reciprocal effect in which an applied electric field will produce a mechanical response. The applied potential produces an electric field in the material, E, which is equal to the applied field divided by the distance between the electrodes. Its units are V/m. The application of electric field will produce attraction between the applied charges and the electric dipoles. D=E (8.18) dielectric permittivity, F/m.

Fig. - Relationship between electric field and the electric displacement in a piezoelectric material 8

Chapter 8b: Piezoelectric Ceramics

8.7 Piezoelectric Materials
8.7.3.2 Converse Effect The converser piezoelectric effect is quantified by the relationship between the applied field and mechanical strain S. Upon application of an electric field, dipole rotation will occur and produce a strain in the material. The slope of the field-to-strain relationship would be equal to the piezoelectric strain coefficient. S=dE (8.19) d strain coefficient, m/V. The equation (8.18) is an expression of the converse effect for a linear piezoelectric material.

Fig. - Relationship between electric field and strain in a piezoelectric material 9

Chapter 8b: Piezoelectric Ceramics

8.7 Piezoelectric Materials
Example. Consider a piezoelectric material with a piezoelectric strain coefficient of 55x10-12 m/V and a mechanical compliance of 20x10-12 m2/N. The material has a square geometry with a side length of 7 mm. Compute (a) the strain produced by a force of 100 N applied to the face of the material when the applied electric field is zero, and (b) the electric field required to produce an equivalent amount of strain when the applied stress is equal to zero. Solution. (a) Compute the stress applied to the face of the material,
T= 100 N = 2.04MPa (7 10 3 m) 2

The strain is compound using equation (8.16),

S = (20 10 12 m 2 / N )(2.04 106 Pa) = 40.8 10 6 m / m

The units of x10-6 m/m are often called microstrain. (b) The electric field required to produce the same strain in the material is computed using the equations for the converse effect. Solving equation (8.19) for E yields
S 40.8 10 6 m / m E= = = 74.2kV / m d 550 10 12 m / V

This value is well within the electric field limits for a typical piezoelectric material.
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