Applications of PZT Components

With the development and improvement of the leadzirconate - lead titanate ceramic materials (PZT) and components based on them, the number of applications grew very rapidly and continues to do so to this day.
A comprehensive description of all applications is practically impossible. The following is intended only to outline the characteristic features of typical applications and to illustrate them with selected PI Ceramic OEM product lines.

When selecting the best possible solution for an application of our piezo components and assemblies in new projects, it is important that there be early contact between your development and engineering departments and PI Ceramic. We have years of experience in the conception, development, design and manufacture of custom solutions and can accompany you from the idea to the implementation of the finished system.
 

Applications by Piezo Effect

Piezoelectric ceramic components are electromechanical transducers. As already explained in the previous sections of this catalog, they are able to:

• Convert mechanical forces from pressure, strain or acceleration into an electrical potential (direct piezo effect) and
• Convert an electrical potential into mechanical motion (inverse piezo effect)

These effects open up a wide range of applications in all areas of engineering.

Use is made both of converting electrical voltages into mechanical motion (piezoelectric actuators) or vibrations (sonic and ultrasonic transmitters), and of the conversion of mechanical forces and accelerations (sensors) or acoustic signals (sonic and ultrasonic receivers) into electrical signals. The ultrasonic signal processing, whether using the direct or inverse piezo effect, is based on the evaluation of propagation times, reflection and phase shift, etc. of ultrasonic waves. Operation is possible in a wide frequency range (a few Hz to a few MHz).