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Piezoelectric Materials |
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Piezoelectric Materials
crystalline substances with strongly pronounced piezoelectric properties used in the manufacture of electromechanical devices, such as piezoelectric resonators, piezoelectric transducers, and sound emitters and receivers. The basic characteristics of piezoelectric materials are (1) the electromechanical coupling factor Special requirements for piezoelectric materials depend on the intended usage. Among the required special properties are high electrical and mechanical strength, weak dependence upon temperature of the characteristics, high quality faction, and moisture resistance. Piezoelectric materials can be categorized either as single crystals, which occur as natural minerals or are grown artificially (quartz, ammonium and potassium dihydrogen phosphate, Rochelle salt, lithium niobate, silicon selenite, germanium selenite), or as polycrystalline ferroelectric solid solutions, known as piezoelectric ceramics. These ceramics, after synthesis, are subjected to polarization in an electric field. Few of the single crystals are actually used as piezoelectric elements. Quartz is widely used because of its mechanical strength, small dielectric loss, resistance to moisture, and the stability of its properties in the face of temperature change. However, its piezoelectric effect is comparatively weak; furthermore, the dimensions of quartz crystals are small, and quartz is difficult to work with. Quartz is used mainly in piezoelectric filters and frequency stabilizers. Laboratory applications of quartz include their use in emitters and receivers of ultrasonic waves. Ammonium dihydrogen phosphate is an artificially grown ferroelectric crystal. It is chemically stable up to its melting point (130°C), exhibits a strongly pronounced piezoelectric effect, and has a low density; it does not, however, pos-
sess sufficient mechanical strength. Crystals of Rochelle salt, which can be grown to large dimensions, possess high values of those characteristics that determine the sensitivity of a sound receiver. The use of Rochelle salt, however, is limited by the salt’s low resistance to moisture and low mechanical strength. Another drawback is the strong dependence of its properties on both the temperature (the salt has a low Curie point and a melting point of only 55°C) and the intensity of the electric field. Lithium niobate, silicon selenite, and germanium selenite have a strongly pronounced piezoelectric effect, high mechanical strength, and high acoustic quality. These materials are utilized in the ultrasonic frequency region. Materials such as tourmaline, potassium hydrogen phosphate, and lithium sulfate are not used. The most widely used industrial piezoelectric materials are the piezoelectric ceramics. REFERENCESFizicheskaia akustika, vol. 1, part A. Edited by W. Mason. Moscow, 1966. (Translated from English.)Matauschek, I. Ul’trazvukovaia tekhnika. Moscow, 1962. (Translated from German.) Ul’trazvukovye preobrazovateli. Edited by Y. Kikuchi. Moscow, 1972. (Translated from English.) B. S. ARONOV and R. E. PASYNKOV Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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