Piezoelectric Materials

Bespoke & Custom Materials

Ecertec develops bespoke compositions and processing technologies for specialist actuator requirements.

Most applications are serviced adequately by standard commercial material types. Indeed, wherever possible, our actuator development projects use off the shelf materials.

There are situations where performance requirements demand the development of either a modified composition or processing route. Ecertec is ideally positioned to solve material development challenges with access to the very latest ceramic processing and characterisation equipment, and an experienced team of renowned development scientists.

Ecertec Piezo Material Highlights

PZT - Lead Zirconate Titanate.
& Derivatives

Many variants: 'hard' and 'soft
Standard Types & Research Materials
> 99.8% theoretical density
Excellent machinability
High dielectric strength
High mechanical strength

PLZT Lead Lanthanum Zirconate Titanate

Produced using Ecertec's unique process avoiding the need for highly expensive hot isostatic pressing.
Ultra dense electro-optic material
Optical transparency available

PFN PMW PNN & Composites

Continuing the world leading developments in electroceramic materials that made Leeds synonymous with Electroceramics

About Piezoelectrics...

Piezoelectric materials produce a charge proportional to an applied stress, as first discovered in 1880 by Jacques and Pierre Curie, and are natural sensor and electrical generator materials. The converse piezoelectric effect, as utilised in actuator applications, describes the deformation of the material in response to an applied electric field.

Research into what we now loosely term "electroceramics" (ferroelectric polycrystalline ceramics) began during World War II with the search for improved capacitor dielectrics.It was found that barium titanate (BaTiO3) and latterly lead zirconate titanate, known as PZT (Pb(Zr1-xTix)O3), possessed much improved dielectric and piezoelectric properties compared to quartz. These materials can be electrically powered by low cost, low power amplifiers and hence cost effective actuators and sensors became a reality.

Today there are a myriad piezoelectric compositions and material variants facing the application engineer. By alteration to the key electromechanical properties, materials can be easily tailored to an application to operate at a desired voltage, frequency or stress etc.

You can find out more details of piezo operation and principles in out ULTRAX Catalogue.

Piezoelectric Glossary Page